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APPENDIX 
EXCERPTS FROM PRINTED RECORDS OF EARLY TRAVEL 
AND EXPLORATION ON THE NORTH WEST COAST 
(1) A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean Undertaken by the Command of 
His Majesty for Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemis- 
phere, in Three Volumes. Volumes I and II Written by Cap- 
tain James Cook (1776-1780). 
"Several of these natives stood up in their canoes haranguine, and making gestures 
after the manner of our first visitors. One canoe was remarkaWe for a singSar head, 
which had a bird's eye and bill, of an enormous size, painted on it; and a person who was 
in it, who seemed to be a Chief, was no less remarkable for his uncommon appearance; 
having many feathers hanging from his head, and being painted in an extraordinary 
manner. He held in his hand a carved bird of wood, as large as a pigeon, with which he 
rattled as the person first-mentioned had done.” (Vol. II, p. 266.) 
“They took from us whatever we offered them in exchange; but were more desirous 
of iron, than of any other of our articles of commerce; appearing to be perfectly acquainted 
with the use of that metsd.” (Vol. II, p. 267.) 
"Besides the skins in their native shape, they also brought garments made of them, 
and another sort of clothing made of the bark of a tree, or some plant Uke hemp; weapons, 
such as bows, arrows, and spears; fish-hooks and instruments of various kinds; woloden 
vizors of many different monstrous figures; a sort of woollen stuff, or blanketing; bags 
filled with red ochre; pieces of carved work; beads; and several chisels or pieces of iron, 
fixed to handles. From their pos^ssing which metals, we could infer that they had either 
been visited before by some civih'zed nation, or had connections with tribes on their con- 
tinent, who had communication with them.” (Vol. II, pp. 270-271.) 
“Sometimes the orator of the canoe would have Ms face covered with a mask, repre- 
senting either a human visage or that of some animal; and, instead of a weapon, would hold 
a rattle in his hand, as before described.” (Vol. II, p. 273.) 
Captain Cook visits Nootka villages and houses, describes native occupations, but 
makes no mention of totem poles (from wMch we infer that he did not see any). (Vol. 
II, p. 280.) 
Traces of earlier contacts with the Spanish. (Vol. II, p. 282.) 
"These visitors also appeared to be more plentifully supplied with iron than the in- 
habitants of the sound.” (Vol. II, p. 282.) 
"I had also an opportunity of inspecting, more narrowly, the construction of the 
houses, household furniture, and utensils.” (Vol. II, p. 285.) 
Facial paint described. (Vol. II, p. 303.) 
“Though their bodies are always covered with red paint, their faces are often stained 
with a black, a brighter red, or a white colour, by way of ornament.” (Vol. II, p. 305.) 
The face “is besmeared with a kind of tallow, mixed with paint, wMch is afterward 
formed into a great variety of regular figures, and appears like carved work.” (Vol. II, 
p. 306.) 
Wooden Masks and Headdresses. “Their monstrous decorations. These consist of 
an endless variety of carved wooden masks or vizors, applied on the face, or to the upper 
part of the head or forehead. Some of these resemble human faces, furnished with hair, 
beards, and eye-brows; others, the heads of birds, particularly of eagles and quebranta- 
hueffos; and many, the heads of land and sea-animals, such as wolves, deer, and porpoises, 
and others. But in general these representations much exceed the natural size; and they 
are painted and often strewed with pieces of the foliaceous mica, which makes them glitter 
and serves to augment their enormous deformity. They even exceed this sometimes, and 
fix on the same part of the head large pieces of carved work, resembling the prow of a canoe, 
painted in the same manner, and projecting to a considerable distance. So fond are they 
of these disguises, that I have seen one of them put Ms head into a tin kettle he had got 
from us, for want of another sort of mask.” (Vol. II, pp. 306-307.) 
Bird Rattles. “The rattles are, for the most part, made in the shape of a bird, with 
a few pebbles in the belly; and the tail is the handle. They have others, however, that 
bear rather more resemblance to a cMld’s rattle.” (Vol. II, p. 311.) 
