LOSS OF THE PEACOCK. 517 



his likeness with the camera lucida, with which he was much pleased ; 

 and although at first silent, and apparently surly, he finally became 

 qnite talkative. 



On my remarking a scar on the bridge of his nose, and others 

 in the tribe who had the same mark, he told me it was the custom 

 with them to cut the nose when they had taken a whale, which 

 they considered a great exploit. The fishing season is in August 

 and September. Their mode of capturing a whale is with buoys, 

 made of seal-skin, which are blown up after the fashion of bladders, 

 and form a large oblong float : these are four feet long, by eighteen 

 inches or two feet in diameter, and are attached by a rope to the har- 

 poon or spear, which is thrown at the whale, and becoming fastened 

 to him, prevents his diving down to any great depth ; after having a 

 number of these attached to him, he is unable to quit the surface, and 

 is finally captured. All those whose seal-skins are attached, now 

 divide the booty : those who are entitled to a share are easily known, 

 for each float has a diff'erent pattern painted upon it. The number 

 of whales taken is reported at about twenty during the season, and 

 a quantity of oil is obtained from them by the Cadborough, a schooner 

 belonging to the Hudson Bay Company, in exchange for articles of 

 little value. 



The Classet tribe of Indians is one of the most numerous on the 

 coast that I had an opportunity of seeing, and seems the most intelli- 

 gent. These Indians wore small pieces of an iridescent mussel-shell, 

 attached to the cartilage of their nose, which was, in some, of the size 

 of a ten cents piece, and triangular in shape. It is generally kept in 

 motion by their breathing. They had seldom any clothing excepting 

 a blanket ; but a few who have contrived to make friends with the 

 visiters, have obtained some old clothes ; while others seem to be in the 

 pay of the Hudson Bay Company. The principal articles of trade are 

 tobacco, powder ("paulalee"), and leaden balls. These are preferred 

 to most other merchandise, although more can be obtained for spirits 

 than for any other article. This shows very conclusively, to my mind, 

 the sort of trade that was carried on when the Boston ships entered 

 into rivalry with the Northwest Company for the purchase of furs. 



At the period of our visit, the Classet were at peace with the other 

 tribe. 



I deem this a good position for a missionary, for these Indians appear 

 to be quite ignorant of any religious notions. I was informed, while 

 at Vancouver, by one of the Catholic priests, that it was their inten- 



VOL. IV. 130 



