CHAP. 

 III. 



'86. 



NORTH WEST COAST OF AMERICA. 2^;^ 



On the 8th I gave as many men as could be conveniently 

 •fpared from the fliip leave to recreate themfelves on Ihore, 

 and a boat to remain with them all day, in order to bring January 

 them on board in the evening. The 25th December "" ^^ 

 being at fea, and the weather very unfettled, we declined 

 celebrating Chriftmas until a more favourable opportunity; 

 and this being a very convenient time, I gave all hands a 

 double allowance of brandy, and fome frefh pork which I 

 killed for the occafion : thefe indulgences, together with 

 a good walk on fhore, made the Chriftmas pafs very plea- 

 fantly ; and in the evening I had the fatisfadlion of feeing my 

 fhip's company in good fpirits ; not a fingle man incapable 

 of doing his duty from drunkennefs or any other caufe. 



Our people, when on fhore, made excurfions into va- 

 rious parts of the country, and fome of them difcovered 

 the ruins of a town, with fome garden ground adjoining, 

 in which were a few flowers ; feveral forts of vegetables in 

 fmall quantities, fuch as horferadifh, flialots, a few fmall 

 potatoes, and fome celery, which was in a degenerate 

 ftate : they likewife faw a hog, but he was fo wild they 

 could not catch him. 



This forenoon we completed our water, and the long- Mo-.day9. 

 boat Vv'as fent for a load of ftone ballaft ; the people 

 who remained on board yefierday, had liberty given them 

 to go on fhore ; they landed on the Weft flde of the 

 harbour, near the ruins of the town I have already taken 

 notice of ; and at fome diftance in the country faw a bul- 

 lock, a cow, and feveral hogs, which probably were left 

 behind when the place was evacuated. 



F From 



