NORTHWEST COAST OF AMERICA. 233 



to day, followed by their dogs, which were small, and had a 

 head and ears strongly resembling those of the wolf. At 

 sunset we came-to under the western shore to wait for day-light. 

 It was a rich treat to behold the sublime prospect around 

 us through all its transitions of sunshine — purple hues, mellow 

 twilight, and evening shades — until there was nothing else to 

 be seen but the dark masses of Rainier and Olympus, uplift- 

 ing themselves against the clear and starry skies of this region. 



May 11th. At an early hour we were out surveying as 

 usual. When finished we again spread our canvas, and made 

 the best of our way for Nisqually, distant about twelve miles. 

 After running about an hour we reached the narrowest part of 

 the Sound, which, at this point was less than 400 yards wide ; the 

 shores on either side were high and precipitous, and the tide run 

 like a sluice. Just before we arrived at the narrows, above 

 described, we passed on our left what appeared to be a large 

 arm of the Sound. We also passed several small conical- 

 shaped islands. About dusk we at length reached our port, and 

 anchored in twenty-two fathoms water. We found here a 

 steamer belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company, and kept to 

 run about the coast to collect furs from the Indians. The 

 Sound is here divided into a great number of arms, some a 

 mile or two wicle,and apparently thirty or forty miles in length. 



May 12th. Hauled-in close to the shore and moored ship, 

 as we are to remain here some weeks, and perhaps- months. 

 Sent all the scientific instruments to the Observatory, except 

 the pendulum. Lieutenant Johnson has been temporarily 

 detached from the " Porpoise," and ordered to take charge of 

 a party that is to examine the interior. Received orders to 

 hold myself in readiness to proceed with Lieutenant Case to 

 Hood's Canal, for the purpose of surveying the same. In the 

 afternoon a large number of natives came on board, among 



