, 1853-08-13


winds The only danger is reef of rocks,
which is nearly in the middle of the en-,
trance. The sheet of water is very exten-
sye, and is surrounded by large growth
of trees, with here and there a small prairie
covered by a verdant greensward, and with
its honeysuckles and roses just in bloom, re-
sembling a well-kcpt lawn. The soil Is su-
perior 10 that of most places around the
sound, and is capable of yielding almost any
kind of production The woods seemed
alive with squirrels, while tracks on the
shore and through the forest showed that the
larger class of animals also were IN the hab-
it of frequenting them.
The next nine days were employed in
surveying Port Orchard, which consists Of
two inner and an outer harbours The form
er, although the entrance is by a strait not
more than two hundred yards wide, is from
two TO six miles in width, and extends for
a distance of fifteen miles The water was
found deep enough for the largest class of
vessels, with bold shore aud good anchor
age. Lieutenant Commandant Rnggold
made set of magnetic observations here.
Near the anchorage were seen three Ca
noes, propped on trees, containing the bod
les of Indians. These were visited by DR..
Holmes, who procured Flathead SKULL
The bodies were found wrapped firmly in
mating, beneath which was a white blank
ct, closely fastened round the body, and un-
der this covering OF blue cotton. Near
by, on stages, were boxes about three feet
square, supposed to contain the articles which
are deposited by the Indians near the bodies
of the dead, and which we're not disturbed.
Many Indians, who were all cheerful and
well disposed, visited the port during the
continuance of the survey.
Port Orchard was found 10 communicate,
on the porth, with Port Madison, which we
had surveyed on our way up the sound
Lieutenant Maury, with the boats, surveyed
this passage, and found that it had depth
of four and half lathoms water at low tide.
Near this passage is place where the
Roman Catholic missionaries have establish
ed a station for teaching the surrounding
tribes. A large cross is erected, and a
building one hundled and seventy-two feet
long by seventy-two wide, which was found
to contain many rude images Many Of the
natives are capable Of saying III, ,ir prayers
aud telling their beads, and some were met
with who could sing some Catholic hymns
in their own language. t y
The Indians frequentine this port called
themselves the Je-ach,tac Tribe.
On the 3lsi, the same meteor that was
observed by the other surveying parties'was
seen. Its first appearance was at an alti.
tude of sixty degrees. lis course was moi
directly downward, but zigzag, and it disap-
peared at an elevation Of twenty degrees
It's track continued luminous for half an
hour, and gradually changed its shape, be-
coming wider and less elongated. There
was no explosion heard by any of the par
ties.
The next point visited and surveyed was
Penn's Cove, between Whidby's Island and
the main. This island contains many small
villages, and appears TO be more thickly
peopled than other parts Of the sound. II
is in possession Of the Seadget tribe, who
have here permanent settlement, consist.
ing of large and well built lodges of timber
and planks, similar to those already descIib
ed on the Columbia and elsewhere. The
chief possessed chest of valuables, care
fully preserved in a corner, the contents O
which were shown by him with no small
pride, and consisted Of long roll Of paper
on which were many representations OF Eu'
ropean houses and churches, together witt
rude sketches of the heavenly bodies, anC
a map of america. These bad been giver
10 him and explained by the Roman Catho
lie priest, and he seemed to understand thC
explanation. This whole tribe are Catho
lies, and have much affection and reverence
for their instructors.
The priests OF the Catholic mission mad'
half-yearly visits, baptizing and leaving 10
kens among these Indians, and have dom
much good in promoting good feeling be
tween them. They were constructing
large building for church, near which wa
erected large cross.
Besides inculcating good morals and peace
the priests are inducing the Indians to cul
tivate the soil, and there was an enclosur
of some three or four acres in which poia
toes and beans were growing. The Indian
were also cultivating large quantities of Po
tatoes, in soil fertile and capable Of pro
ducing every thing. Wild flowers were il
abundance, and with strawberry wines GOV
cred the whole surface. The fruit Of tn
latter was large and of fine flavor.
, The Scadget tribe are obliged to provid
, for their defence against the more norther
; tribes, by whom they are frequently attack
ed, for the purpose Of carrying them off a
/ slaves. For protection against these at
: tacks they have large enclosures, four hund
red feet long, and capable of containin
! many families, which are constructed {
| pickets made of thick planlS, about lhrt
f feet high. The pickles are firmly fixed in
{ 10 the ground, the spaces bctween them be