510 ^^ FUCA'S STRAITS AND 



contain the articles which are deposited by the Indians near tlie 

 bodies of the dead, and which were not disturbed. 



Many Indians, who were all cheerful and well disposed, visited the 

 port during the continuance of the survey. 



Port Orchard was found to communicate, on the north, with Port 

 Madison, which we had surveyed on our way up the sound. Lieu- 

 tenant Maury, with the boats, surveyed this passage, and found that 

 it had a depth of four and a half fathoms water at low tide. 



Near this passage is a place where the Roman Catholic mission- 

 aries have established a station for teaching the surrounding tribes. 

 A large cross is erected, and a building one hundred and seventy-two 

 feet long by seventy-two wide, which was found to contain many 

 rude images. Many of the natives are capable of saying their 

 prayers and telling their beads, and some were met with who could 

 sing some Catholic hymns in their own language. 



The Indians frequenting this port called themselves of the Je-ach- 

 tac tribe. 



On the 31st, the same meteor that was observed by the other 

 surveying parties was seen. Its first appearance was at an altitude 

 of sixty degrees. Its course was not directly downward, but zigzag, 

 and it disappeared at an elevation of twenty degrees. Its track 

 continued luminous for half an hour, and gradually changed its 

 shape, becoming wider and less elongated. There was no explosion 

 heard by any of the parties. 



The next point visited and surveyed was Penn's Cove, between 

 Whidby's Island and the main. This island contains many small 

 villages, and appears to be more thickly peopled than other parts of 

 the sound. It is in possession of the Sachet tribe, who have here 

 a permanent settlement, consisting of large and well-built lodges of 

 timber and planks, similar to those already described on the Columbia 

 and elsewhere. The chief possessed a chest of valuables, carefully 

 preserved in a corner, the contents of which were shown by him 

 with no small pride, and consisted of a long roll of paper, on which 

 were many representations of European houses and churches, toge- 

 ther with rude sketches of the heavenly bodies, and a map of 

 America. These had been given to him and explained by the 

 Roman Catholic priest, and he seemed to understand the expla- 

 nation. This whole tribe are Catholics, and have much affection 

 and reverence for their instructers. 



The priests of the Catholic mission made half-yearly visits, bap- 



