196 
out by the Chief alone, after which both men and women join and sing in octaves, beating 
time regularly with their hands, or paddles: meanwhile the Chief shakes his rattle, and 
makes a thousand ridiculous gesticulations, singing at intervals in different notes from the 
rest; and this mirth generally continues near half an hour without intermission.” (Pp. 
242-243.) 
“Whether or no they make use of any hieroglyphics to perpetuate the memory of 
events, I cannot say, though their numerous drawings of birds and fishes, and their carved 
representations of animals and human faces, might perhaps warrant a supposition of the 
kind. Many of these carvings are well proportioned and executed with a considerable 
degree of ingenuity, which appears rather extraordinary amongst a people so remote 
from civilized refinement. But then we must consider that this art is far from being in its 
infancy; a fondness for carving and sculpture was discovered amongst these people by 
Captain Cook: iron implements were then also in use; and their knives are so very thin 
that they bend them into a variety of forms, which answer their every purpose nearly as 
well as if they had recourse to a carpenter’s tool chest. At what period iron was intro- 
duced on this coast is very uncertain, but it must doubtless be a considerable time ago; 
and I may venture to assert that their implements are not of English manufacture, so that 
there is little doubt of their being obtained from the Russians. The only implement 1 
saw (iron excepted) was a toe made of jasper, the same as those used by the New Zealand- 
ers.” (P. 243.) 
“I have also taken notice of the articles most acceptable in barter, and shall only add 
on that head, that copper is almost the only article in request at King George’s Sound.” 
(P. 245.) 
(3) Voyages Made in the Years 1788 and 1789 from China to the 
North West Coast of America, by John Meares, London, 1790. 
Nootka Feast House with Carvings. “Three enormous trees, rudely carved and painted, 
formed the rafters, which were supported at the ends and in the middle by gigantic images, 
carved out of huge blocks of timber. The same kind of broad planks covered the whole to 
keep out the rain; but they were so placed as to be removed at pleasure, either to receive 
the air and light, or let out the smoke.” (P. 138.) 
Carved Poles: “The trees that supported the roof were of a size which would render 
the mast of a first-rate man of war diminutive, on a comparison with them; indeed our 
curiosity as well as our astonishment was on its utmost stretch, when we considered the 
strength that must be necessary to raise these enormous beams to their present elevation; 
and how such strength could be found by a people wholly unacquainted with mechanic 
powers. The door by which we entered this extraordinary fabric was the mouth of one of 
these huge images, which, large as it may be supposed, was not disproportioned to the other 
features of this monstrous visage. We ascended by a few steps on the outside, and after 
passing this extraordinary kind of portal, descended down the chin ” (P. 138.) 
“The royal coffers, which consisted of large chests rudely carved, and fancifully 
adorned with human teeth.” (P. 140.) 
Native Copper: “The piue malleable lumps of copper ore seen in the possession of the 
natives convince us that there are mines of this metal in the vicinity of this part of the 
western coast. We once saw a piece of it, which appeared to weigh about a pound, through 
which an hole had been perforated sufficiently large for a handle to pass, in order to make a 
kind of hammer. On inquiring of the man in whose possession it was, from whence he 
procured it, he made us understand that he had received it in barter from some of the 
native people who lived more to the northward. We had also occasionally seen necklaces 
and a sort of bracelets worn on the wrist, which were of the purest ore, and to all appearance 
had never been in the possession of a European.” (P. 247.) 
Armour: “But these are the dresses of peace; the people of Nootka have another for 
war, and is admirably contrived to answer tne purpose for which it is put on. It consists 
of a thick leathern frock or doublet, made from the skin of the elk, cut into a fringe at the 
sides and neck, and adorned on the other parts with tassels of leather; it reaches from the 
neck to the heels, and is painted with various devices. This garment is suflBciently strong 
to resist the arrows or even the spears of their enemies, as by hanging loose it 3 deld 8 to the 
force, and checks the progress both of one and the other. It may, therefore, be considered 
as a very complete defensive armour. This dress is accompanied with a mask represent- 
in the head of some animal; it is made of wood, with the eyes, teeth, etc., and is a work of 
