1791.] SECOND VOYAGE OF THE COLUMBIA. 229 



States, for a confirmation of the title.* That the lands were thus 

 sold by the savage chiefs, there is no reason to, doubt ; and Maquinna 

 or Wicanish would as readily have conveyed the whole of America 

 to any one for the consideration of a copper kettle : but the validity 

 of the acquisition will scarcely be recognized by the civilized nation 

 which may hereafter hold the sovereignty of the country about 

 Nootka Sound. Neither Kendrick nor his vessel ever returned to 

 America: he was killed, in 1793, at Karakakooa Bay, in Owyhee, 

 by a ball accidentally fired from a British vessel, while saluting him. 



At Canton, Ingraham disposed of his furs advantageously, and 

 vested the proceeds in teas, which he sent to Boston by a vessel 

 chartered for the purpose. He then sailed, on the 3d of April, for 

 the north-west coasts of America, and spent the summer in trading 

 in and about Queen Charlotte's Island, which was then the principal 

 resort of the Americans. 



The Columbia, under her former captain, Gray, left Boston on 

 the 28th of September, 1790, ten days after the departure of the 

 Hope ; f and, without the occurrence of any thing worthy of note 

 on her way, she arrived at Clyoquot, near the entrance of the Strait 

 of Fuca, on the 5th of June, 1791. Thence she proceeded, in a 

 few days, to the eastern side of Queen Charlotte's Island, on which, 

 and on the coasts of the continent and islands in its vicinity, she 

 remained until September, engaged in trading and exploring. 

 During this time, Gray examined many of the inlets and passages 

 between the 54th and the 56th parallels, in one of which — most 

 probably the same afterwards called by Vancouver the Portland 



* The circular addressed by the owners of the Washington, on this occasion, is a 

 curious document. It is written in four languages, and is couched in terms the 

 most unspecific which could have been selected. The " •inhabitants of Europe" are 

 informed that, " in 1787, Captain J. Kendrick, while prosecuting an advantageous 

 voyage with the natives for furs, purchased of them, for the owners, a tract of de- 

 lightful country, comprehending four degrees of latitude, or two hundred and forty 

 miles square;" and that "such as may be inclined to associate, for settling a com- 

 monwealth on their own code of laws, on a spot of the globe nowhere surpassed in 

 delightful and healthy climate, and fertile soil, claimed by no civilized nation, and 

 purchased, under a sacred treaty of peace and commerce, and for a valuable considera- 

 tion, of the friendly natives, may have the best opportunity of trying the result of such 

 an enterprise." Of the situation of this tract of delightful country we learn nothing 

 from the circular, except that it lies in America. The deeds for the lands are de- 

 clared to have been registered in the office of the American consul at Macao ; and 

 these deeds, or some of them, have been lately published, referring only to the terri- 

 tories about Nootka Sound, which, though including all the dominions of the chiefs 

 conveying them, do not amount to one twenty-fourth part of two hundred and forty 

 miles square. 



1 Log-lrook of the Columbia, from September 28th, 1790, to February 20th, 1792. 



I 



