LOSS OF THE PEACOCK. 599 



first night near the point where the surveys were to begin, but outside 

 of the Narrows. 



The first bay at the bottom of Admiralty Sound was termed 

 Commencement Bay. Into tliis, the Puyallup, a small river, which, 

 it will be recollected, was passed by Lieutenant Johnson, ten or 

 twelve miles from Nisqually, falls. Commencement Bay affords 

 anchorage, and a supply of wood and water may be obtained. 

 The Puyallup forms a delta, and none of the branches into which 

 it is divided are large enough for the entrance of a boat. The 

 Indians were at this season of the year to be found on almost all 

 the points, and were the same filthy creatures that have been before 

 described. 



The Porpoise was engaged until the 20th in surveying Admiralty 

 Sound to the end of Vashon's Island, and on the afternoon of that 

 day anchored in the Port Orchard of Vancouver. 



Port Orchard is one of the most beautiful of the many fine har- 

 bours on these inland waters, and is perfectly protected from the 

 winds. The only danger is a reef of rocks, which is nearly in the 

 middle of the entrance. The sheet of water is very extensive, and 

 is surrounded by a large growth of trees, with here and there a small 

 prairie covered by a verdant greensward, and with its honeysuckles 

 and roses just in bloom, resembling a well-kept lawn. The soil is 

 superior to that of most places around the sound, and is capable of 

 yielding almost any kind of production. The woods seemed alive 

 with squirrels, while tracks on the shore and through the forest 

 showed that the larger class of animals also were in the habit of 

 frequenting them. 



The next nine days were employed in surveying Port Orchard, 

 which consists of two inner and an outer harbours. The former, 

 although the entrance is by a strait not more than two hundred yards 

 wide, is from two to six miles in width, and extends for a distance 

 of fifteen miles. The water was found deep enough for the largest 

 class of vessels, with a bold shore and good anchorage. Lieutenant- 

 Commandant Ringgold made a set of magnetic observations here. 



Near the anchorage were seen three canoes propped on trees, con- 

 taining the bodies of Indians. These were visited by Dr. Holmes, 

 who procured a Flathead skull. The bodies were found wrapped 

 firmly in matting, beneath which was a white blanket, closely 

 fastened round the body, and under this a covering of blue cotton. 

 Near by, on stages, were boxes about three feet square, supposed to 



VOL. IV. 128 



