LOSS OF THE PEACOCK. 483 



keeping distinct. Their names were, the Scocomish, Suquamish, 

 Clalams, and Sachets, who live in harmony with each other, although 

 they do not scruple to call one another •'* peshac," or bad ; but this 

 epithet is invariably given to those of a different tribe by all the 

 Oregon Indians. The term, however, is applied with greater force to 

 the more northern tribes, who frequently undertake incursions on 

 them, in strong marauding parties, for the purpose of obtaining slaves : 

 they are, in consequence, held in great dread. During the stay of the 

 brig, an alarm occurred, which produced much consternation among 

 them. Many sought shelter in the woods ; others went off to their 

 strongholds, and some women sought shelter alongside the brig in their 

 canoes. 



These Indians suffer little inconvenience in their changes of resi- 

 dence; for, having but few chattels, they can remove at a few moments' 

 notice; and after landing at an entirely strange place, they are at home 

 the moment their fires are lighted. 



The 4th of July was spent near Point Roberts ; and on the 5th, the 

 brig reached the mouth of Fraser's river, which is about a mile wide, 

 with a serpentine channel, leading through an extensive mud-flat. 

 Fort Langley, of the Hudson Bay Company, is situated about twenty 

 miles from the mouth. The country immediately around is low, and 

 has a rich alluvial soil. It is inhabited by the Nanitch tribe, who 

 accompanied the brig thither from Birch Bay. The mouth of Fraser's 

 river was found to be six miles north of latitude 49° N. 



Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold, on the 20th, received further 

 instructions from me to push the survey to the north ; but being short 

 of bread, he had sent Passed Midshipman Sandford to obtain a supply, 

 which was at once despatched in the launch, although I expected to 

 meet the brig at New Dungeness in a few days. 



On the 20th, as before mentioned, the brig joined the Vincennes at 

 New Dungeness. 



I had been in hopes that, after the severe tour of surveying duty for 

 the last three months, I should be able to give the crews some relaxa- 

 tion ; but I found this impossible, for the duties were necessarily much 

 increased by the absence of the Peacock and Flying-Fish, and the 

 necessity of finishing as much of the northern survey as possible, as 

 well as obtaining accurate information in relation to the positions, &c. 

 I deemed it of too much importance to allow a day to go by unimproved. 

 Orders were therefore given to the boats under Lieutenant Case to 

 proceed to Port Townsend, to fill up the surveys and connect them 

 with Hood's Canal and those of Whidbv's Island. 



