197 
considerable ingenuity. Of these masks they have a great variety, which are applicable 
to certain circumstances and occasions. Those, for example, which represent the head 
of the otter, or any other marine animals, are used only when they go to hunt them. In 
their war expeditions, but at no other time, they cover the whole of their dress with large 
bear-skins.” (P. 254.) 
Masks: “The seal is also an animal very difficult to take, on account of its being able 
to remain imder water. Artifices are, therefore, made use of to decoy him within reach of 
the boats; and this is done in general by the means of masks of wood made in so exact 
a resemblance of nature that the animal takes it for one of his own spjecies, and falls a prey 
to the deception. On such occasions, some of the natives put on these masks, and hiding 
their bodies with branches of trees as they lie among the rocks, the seals are tempted to 
approach so near the spot as to put it in the power of the natives to pierce them with their 
arrows. Similar artifices are employed against the sea-cow, etc. The otters, as well as 
some of the land animals, are, we believe, occasionally taken in the same manner.” (P, 261.) 
“In most of their houses they have, as has already been observed, certain huge idols 
or images, to whom we never saw them pay any mark of common respect, much less of 
worship or adoration. These misshappen figures occupied, as it appeared, somewhat of a 
distinguished and appropriate place, wherever we saw them; but they seemed to have 
no exclusive privilege whatever, and shared the common filth of those who lived beneath 
the same roof with them.” (P. 268.) 
“He continued to inform us that the people killed the old man, and took his canoe; 
and that from this event they derived their fondness for copper. He also gave us to under- 
stand that the images in their houses were intended to represent the form, and pterpetuate 
the mission of the old man who came from the sky.” (P. 270.) 
(4) A Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean and Round 
the World; in which the Coast of North-West America has 
been Carefully Examined and Accurately Surveyed, in the 
Years 1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, and 1795. Under the Com- 
mand of Captain George Vancouver, in Three Volumes, Lon- 
don, 1798 
“Whilst he remained at Clayoquot, Wicananish, the chief of that district, had concerted 
a plan to capture his ship, by bribing a native of Owhyhee, whom Mr. Gray had with him, 
to wet the priming of all the fire-arms on board, which w'ere constantly kept loaded.” 
(Vol. I, p. 215.) 
“These people, in their persons, canoes, arms, implements, etc., seemed to resemble 
chiefly the inhabitants of Nootka; though less bedaubed with paint, and less filthy in their 
external appearance. They wore ornaments in their ears, but none were observed in their 
noses; some of them understood a few words of the Nootka language; they were clothed 
in the skins of deer, bear, and some other animals, but principally in a woollen garment 
of their own manufacture, extremely well wrought. They did not appear to possess any 
furs. Their bow's and implements they freely bartered for knives, trinkets, copper, etc.; 
and, what was very extraordinary, they offered for sale two children, each about six or seven 
years of age, and being shown some copper, were very anxious that the bargain should be 
closed.” (Vol. I, p. 230.) 
“A canoe, in which there were three men, went alongside the launch, and bartered a 
few trifles for beads, iron, and copper, but declined every invitation to come on shore.” 
(Vol. I, p. 240.) 
“Their spears, arrows, fishgiggs, and other weapons, were shaped exactly like those of 
Nootka; but none were pointed with copper, or with mussel shell. The three former were 
generally barbed, and those pointed with common flint, agate, and bone, seemed of their 
original workmanship. Yet more of their arrows were observed to be pointed with thin, 
flat iron, than with bone or flint, and it was very singular that they should prefer exchang- 
ing those pointed with iron, to any of the others.” (Vol. I, p. 253.) 
“The chief, for so we must distinguish him, had two hangers, one of Spanish, the other 
of English manufacture, on which he seemed to set a very high value. 
induced Mr. Whidbey to continue his examination on shore; on which 
occasion he was accompanied by the chief and several of the party, who conducted them- 
selves with the greatest propriety; though with no small degree of civil curiosity in examin- 
