516 



DE FUCA'S STRAITS AND 



heavy swell of the ocean ; and is reported as being unsafe, except for- 

 te mporary anchorage. 



Neah Harbour is but a small indentation in the coast, which is 

 partly sheltered on the northeast by Neah Island. It is the position 

 where the Spaniards attempted to establish themselves in 1792, and 

 which they called Port Nunez Gaona. The remains of an old fort 

 are still to be perceived, and some bricks were found that were sup- 

 posed to have belonged to it. Water is to be obtained here in some 

 quantity, and a small vessel would have no difficulty in getting 

 enough. It offers a tolerably safe anchorage, though somewhat ex- 

 posed to the northwest gales ; yet by anchoring well in, which a small 

 vessel may do, protection even from these gales might be had. 



On the night of the 2d, we had an eclipse of the moon. 



The ship, on anchoring, was surrounded by many canoes of the 

 Classet Indians, who inhabit the country around Cape Flattery. 

 They were well disposed to trade, and were greatly surprised that so 

 large a ship should want no furs, which were of several kinds : the 

 sea-otter was that most prized, and held at very exorbitant prices, more 

 than they could be bought for in the United States. George, the 

 chief of the Tatouche tribe, as he terms himself, was on board all 



TATOUCHE CHIEF. 



day. He speaks a few words of English, and is a fine-looking 

 man. It was difficult to make him or any of his people understand 

 the use of a man-of-war, the number of people on board, and the 

 care that was taken to keep them from coming on board. He 

 showed it by continually asking, " What for so big ship ?" " What 

 for so many mans?" — all probably proceeding from his disappoint- 



ment m not being able to sell his skins. 



succeeded in getting 



