60 THE INDIANS OF CAPE FLATTERY. 



as merely complimentary titles. It was thus that the great chiefs of the Nootkans 

 and Clyoquots made the early discoverers believe that they owned all the land 

 south of Nootka and about Cape Flattery; and undoubtedly it was with this 

 impression that Meares named the island at the entrance of the strait Tatoosh, 

 supposing it to belong to Tatooshatticus, one of the Clyoquot or Nootkan chiefs. 

 The Indian name of the island and village is Chahdi, and it is either called by that 

 name, or Opa-jek-ta, meaning island — in the same manner as we would say, " We 

 will go to Tatoosh," or " We wiU go to the island." 



Taken in connection with the allegory of the thunder bird, Tatoosh or Tootootsh, 

 which is the Clyoquot name of the thunder bird, seems singularly appropriate. 

 The roaring of the waves reverberating in the caverns of the island, reminding them 

 of thunder, and the bright flashes from the thunder cloud of the Ha-hek-to-ak — 

 the producer of fire. But however amusing such an application of the name 

 might appear, it has no foundation in reality, as the Indians do not, nor have they 

 ever called the island by any other name than Chahdi. It is worthy of remark 

 at this place that Maquinna or Maquilla, the great Nootkan chief mentioned by 

 Vancouver, Meares, and others, is claimed by Cedakanim to have been a Clyoquot ; 

 while Kwistoh, a very intelligent chief among the Nittinats, has assured me that he 

 was a Nittinat, who resided at Mowatchat, or Nootka. It is from conversation 

 with these chiefs, as well as the Makahs, that I have formed the opinion that the 

 Nittinat tribe was in reality the parent stock, and that the Indians of the south- 

 western portion of Vancouver Island, and at Cape Flattery, should be termed the 

 Nittinat family, instead of the Nootkan or Clyoquot. I have not been able to pre- 

 pare vocabularies of all these tribes, but their language, so far as I can judge from 

 hearing them speak, is sufiiciently alike to be recognized, and to leave no doubt 

 that it was originally the same in all. 



The changes that have been introduced among the Makahs by intercourse with 

 the whites, can be summed up in a few words. Formerly .they were clothed in 

 robes of furs or skins, or with blankets made from cedar bark, dog's-hair, or bird 

 skins ; their weapons consisted of bows and arrows, spears, and stone-knives, and 

 hatchets. Their food was the product of the ocean, the roots and berries indige- 

 nous to the Cape, and such wild animals and birds as they could destroy. TKeir 

 trade was confined to barter among themselves, or the tribes of the coast. They 

 were almost constantly at variance with other tribes, and lived in a state of fear 

 and apprehension. They were cruel, ferocious, and treacherous, particularly to any 

 so unfortunate as to be thrown among them, either by the fortunes of war, or other- 

 wise. With the advent of white men blankets were substituted for their robes of 

 skins and bark, and calico used for the simple cincture of bark worn about the loins ; 

 guns and knives were substituted for bows and spears ; and potatoes, flour, bread, 

 with other articles of food, replaced in a measure their fish, game, and roots. They 

 acquired the knowledge of trade, and learned the value of money ; but farther than 

 this their progress has been slow. They have learned enough during their inter- 

 course with the whites to make them careful about committing hostilities, knowing 

 that the good-will of the white men, and the benefits of their trade, were means 

 of enriching themselves and procuring many comforts ; but their savage natures 



