, 1853-07-23
Extracts from Wilkes Exploring
Expedition.
Continued I

PUGET SOUND AND oKoNACAN.
lS4l.

PUGET SOUND AND OKoNACAN.
lS4l.
On my return 10 Nisqually, my first care
had reference 10 our provision of bread
This found to be so far expended as 10
make il necessary to cconomize it by every
means in my power, if ! wished to avoid its
falling short therefore determined to at
tempt 10 have fresh bread baked. With
this view ! had an oven built upon a plan
borrowed from the steam-holes of the Ind-
ans. The bottom of the oven was formed
upon stage of plank, and the shape of the
supersiructure was given by bending twigs
ot hazel. These were covered with a plas
lie clay, which was found in abundance in
The neighborhood. A dough-trough was
followed out of the trunk of large tree
When the oven and trough were ready, an
other difficulty was to be overcome. for We
had no bakers. This was remedied, how
ever, by the assistance Of our stewards and
cooks and two sailors instructed by them
were appointed 10 take charge Of the bake
gy. We now began 10 bake daily, and sue
creded 50 well ailer day or two, that the
whole ships company was DAHL, supplied
with full ralionS Of soft bread, causing an
important saving in our store of sea biscuit.
Learned, Immediately upon my return,
that the surveys under Lieutenant Com
mandant Ringgold and Lieutenant Case,
were making rapid progress. The former
with the force under him, had completed a
large portion of Admiralty Inlet the lat
Ter had finished Hoods Canal, and had re-
turned to take up the survey of Puget
Sound. A report having been made to me-
that one Of the eye-pieces of the thcodolilC
had been lost in Hoods Canal, Lieutenant
Badd was ordered 10 relieve Lieutenant
Case, and the latter was despatched 10 search
Tor it. Lieutenant Case proceeded in Q
bOai well armed, and visited all the stations
he had before occupied, and became wei
satisfied that it had been stolen. Will,
looking for 1t, canoe with three Toando.
joined him, and on learning what he wa.
looking for. they said it was among the SEQ
cOmish tribe, and gave full account Of il
having been picked up by a woman who wa
sitting near when the box was opened -.
Lieutenant Case took one of the men will
bin up the canal, to point out the place OF
reaching which, they proceeded to the chief
house, who was absent, but soon returned
Lieutenant Case asked him for the MISSING
article the possession of which being dc
med, be took the chiefs gun, telling him j
would be kept until the eye-piece was re
stored. After several Gruitless attempts, i
could not be obtained for the woman, i
was said, had taken it down the canal Tn,
chief, however, promised TO follow her
which he did the next day. The next morn
ing Lieutenant Case was threatened with al
attack by eight canoes, which he avoided by
making sail down the canal, when they de
sisted from following him. During the day
he mel the chief returning. He had beer
10 the Scocomish village, having heard tha
1grl there had something resembling it, a
ne said, but it proved to be a cologne-bot
Lieutenant Case, finding that his part,
was 100 small to attempt force, restored III,
Sh'ef bis gun. He was Afterwards informc,
mat The chiefs object in visiting the villa
ees on The canal, had been to collect hi