208 NISQUALLY AND COLUMBIA RIVER. 



Their language was one of the most disagreeable we had yet heard 

 full of gutturals, and the sounds Mick, Muck, and tsck. 



Late in the afternoon, we reached and weathered the low sand- 

 point, called by Vancouver New Dungeness, and stood over for his 

 Protection Island. We passed within less than a quarter of a mile of 

 the point, where we had three and a half fathoms water. 



After passing that island, an extensive bay opened, on whose shores 

 we saw the long poles mentioned by Vancouver, and represented in 

 his book. The use of these he was unable to discover, but the Indians 

 informed us that they were for the purpose of suspending nets for 

 taking the wild-fowl that frequent these shores in great numbers. On 

 these poles the nets are set up at night, at which time the geese search 

 these grounds for food: fires are then lighted, which alarm the birds, 

 and cause them to fly against the nets, by which they are thrown upon 

 the ground, where, before they have time to recover themselves, they 

 are caught and killed. 



The description of Vancouver is so exactly applicable to the present 

 state of this port, that it. was difficult to believe that almost half a cen- 

 tury had elapsed since it was written. The beautiful woods and lawns 

 of Protection Island, in particular, exist unchanged. The lawns still 

 produce the same beautiful flowers and shrubs, and although closely 

 surrounded by dense woods, do not seem to have been encroached 

 upon by their luxuriant growth, although there is no apparent reason 

 why it should not long ere this have overrun them. 



Our anchorage in Port Discovery was close to the shore, in twenty- 

 seven fathoms water. It is a well-protected harbour, and very con- 

 venient of access, but the depth of water and the high precipitous 

 banks, would almost preclude its being made the seat of a settlement. 



The name of Port Discovery was given by Vancouver. It is eight 

 miles long, two miles in average width, and its points, which terminate 

 in low sandy projections, interlock each other. The shores are sup- 

 plied with large quantities of shell-fish. Protection Island covers it 

 completely to the north, and would render it easily defensive against 

 the most formidable attack. The only objection to it as a harbour is 

 that already spoken of, the great depth of the water, which in the 

 middle is no where less than forty or fifty fathoms, and is often as 

 much as sixteen fathoms close to the shore. 



The Indians whom we found dwelling here are of the Clalam tribe. 

 They occupy a few miserable lodges on one of the points, and are a 

 most filthy race, so much so indeed that to enter their lodges is abso- 

 lutely disgusting. They are no more than a few rudely-cut slabs, 

 covered in part by coarse mats. 



