1778.] COOK AT ANCHOR IN NOOTKA SOUND. 151 



he would have discovered an arm of the ocean, seeming to pene- 

 trate the continent, through which he might have sailed many days, 

 ere he could have been convinced that the old Greek pilot's account 

 was not true in all its most essential particulars. This arm of the . 

 ocean was passed unobserved by the navigators, who, sailing north- 

 westward, in front of its entrance, doubled a projection of the land, 

 named, by them, Point Breakers, from the violence of the surf 

 beating on it, and found immediately beyond a spacious bay, open- 

 ing to the Pacific, in the latitude of 49J degrees. Into this bay 

 they sailed, and anchored on its northern side, at the distance of 

 ten miles from the sea, in a safe and commodious harbor, to which 

 they gave the name of Friendly Cove. 



The British vessels remained at Friendly Cove nearly all the 

 month of April, in the course of which they were completely 

 refitted, and supplied with wood and water, and the men were 

 refreshed, in preparation for the arduous labors of the ensuing 

 summer. During this period, they were surrounded by crowds of 

 natives, who came thither from all quarters, by sea and by land, to 

 visit and trade with the strangers, " bringing," says Cook, " skins of 

 various animals, such as wolves, foxes, bears, deer, raccoons, pole- 

 cats, martins, and, in particular, of the sea otters, which are found 

 at the islands east of Kamtchatka. Besides the skins in their native 

 shape, they also brought garments made of the bark of a tree, or 

 some plant like hemp ; weapons, such as bows and arrows, and 

 spears ; fish-hooks, and instruments of various kinds ; wooden 

 visors of many monstrous figures ; a sort of woollen stuff or blan- 

 keting ; bags filled with red ochre ; pieces of carved work, beads, 

 and several other little ornaments of thin brass and iron, shaped 

 like a horse-shoe, which they hang at. their noses, and several 

 chisels, or pieces of iron fixed to handles." 



"In trafficking with us," continues the navigator, " some of them 

 would betray a knavish disposition, and carry off our goods with- 

 out making any return ; but, in general, it was otherwise, and we 

 had abundant reason to commend the fairness of their conduct. 

 However, their eagerness to possess iron and brass, and, indeed, 

 any kind of metal, was so great, that few of them could resist 

 the temptation to steal it, whenever an opportunity offered. They 

 were thieves in the strictest sense of the word ; for they pilfered 

 nothing from us but what they knew could be converted to the 

 purposes of private utility, and had a real value, according to their 

 estimation of things." Cook also observed among them a " strict 



