QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS. 155 B 



land south-east, about seven leagues distant. Our latitude was 54° 22" Enters Cloak 

 N. ; and the longitude 133° 50" W. During the afternoon, we had light Bay * 

 variable winds, on which we stood to the northward, for fear we should 

 get to leeward of the bay in sight, and we were determined to make it 

 if possible, as there was was every probability of meeting with inhabi- 

 tants. During the night we had light variable airs in every direction, 

 together with a heavy swell from the south-west ; so that in the morn- 

 ing of the 2nd we found our every effort to reach the bay ineffectual ; 

 however, a moderate breeze springing up at north-east, we stood in for 

 the land close by the wind with our starboard tacks on board. At 

 seven o'clock, to our very great joy, we saw several canoes full of 

 Indians who appeared to have been out at sea, making toward us. On 

 their coming up with the vessel, we found them to be a fishing party ; 

 but some of them wore excellent beaver* cloaks. * * * * 

 The Indians we fell in with in the morning of the 2nd of July, did not 

 seem inclined to dispose of their cloaks, though we endeavored to 

 tempt them by exhibiting various articles of trade, such as toes, hat- 

 chets, adzes, howels, tin kettles, pans, &c, their attention seemed 

 entirely taken up with viewing the vessel, which they apparently did 

 with marks of wonder and surprise. This we looked on as a good Opening of 

 omen, and the event showed that/o/- once we were not mistaken. After ra e ' 

 their curiosity, in some measure, subsided, they began to trade, and we 

 presently bought what cloaks and skins they had got, in exchange for 

 toes,f which they seemed to like very much. They made signs for us 

 to go in towards the shore, and gave us to understand that we should 

 find more inhabitants, and plenty of furs. By ten o'clock we were 

 within a mile of the shore, and saw the village where these Indians 

 dwelt right abreast of us ; it consisted of about six huts, which 

 appeared to be built in a more regular form than any we had yet seen, 

 and the situation very pleasant, but the shore was rocky, and afforded 

 no place for us to anchor in. A bay now opened to the eastward, on 

 which we hauled by the wind, which blew pretty fresh from the north- 

 ward and eastward, and steered directly for it. During this time 

 several of the people whom we traded with in the morning had been 

 on shore, probably to show their newly acquired bargains; but on 

 seeing us steer for the bay, they presently pushed after us, joined by 

 several other canoes. As we advanced up the bay, there appeared Adverse wind. 

 to be an excellent harbour, well land-locked, about a league ahead ; we 



* Beavers do not occur in the Queen Charlotte Islands, but this term appears to be used 

 here, as elsewhere in the narrative, for sea otter cloaks. Bee p. 228, in statement on which it 

 is implied that no beaver skins were obtained- 



t T ^PP ears t0 be a species of adze or ohisel, as on p. 244, in connection with another part of 

 the N. W. coast, a ' toe made of jasper the same as those used by the Xew Zealanders," is 

 mentioned. 



