, 1853-08-20

Catholic priests, that II was their intention
to make Il visit TO them the next year, fol
the Purpos2 Of establishing their religion
among them.
On the 3d, We were engaged in the sur
vey of the harLor, besides obtaining fifteen
hundred gallons Of water. It's position (lhe
north point of Neah I,land) was found 10
be IN latitude 4So 2I' 10" N. longitude
1910 3G' 1t" W.; variation 2lo Oo' ~
eastcrly.
We had as many as forty canoes along
SIDE on the Sd, with various articles lor
sale, including fish, vrnison, sc. Some ot
the canoes had as many as twenty persons
in them. They were generally stout, ath-
lelic race and il was observed that tho
women were much better looking than those
of the other IriLes. Some OF them, indeed,
had quite fair compilations and rosy checks.
They are not as much exposed 10 the wealth
cr as those we had previously seen, being
provided with a conical hut, made of grass,
and plated so tight as to be imp,ryious to
water, which both protects them from the
rain and sun
It is said that this tribe can muster one
thousand warriors, and they have the repu-
talion of being treacherous and warlike -
Many Of them were fantastically painted
that is, bcsmeared with oil, SCOT, and red
paint. Their dress consists Of native
blanket, made of dogs hair. interspersed
with feathers this is much more highly
valued than the bought ones, but is rarely
to be Obtained. The Glamour made by OUT
numerous visiters alongside was very great,
and their offers of articles were without
much regard to the priority of rank, or any
thing else.
The practice of nattening the head is
prevalent here, but perhaps not so univer-
sal as among the other tribes We have seen.
George, or King George, invited me to WIS.,
it him at Tatouche, his village, about half a
mile nearer to Cape Flaitcry than the place
where the ship lay but l had no time to
spare. He informed me they had fifty lodg-
es, made of planks, similar to those already
described. His tribe live principally upon
fish, Of which they catch large quantities
and when a whale is taken, they literally
gorge themselves with the blubbrr.
II was reported to me, late in the ancr-
noon, that ball had been fired at some of
the sailors engas srd in surveying bui it did
not do any damage, striking the beach some
little distance from them. did not think
it worth while 10 make any inquiry or dis
turbance about this matter, and only mention
the fact 10 caution those who may hereafter
visit this port that il is necessary 10 be upon
their guard.
AT . T. NJ. we got under way, with the
Porpoise in company, and succeeded in ma
king an ohug before the fog envcloped US.
These fngs arc one Of the greatest annoyan-
ces to vessels arriving on this coast /; for, in
fine weather they are experienced almost
daily, coming up with the s2a-brcczr, con-
tinuing throughout the night, and until the
sun has sufficient power the next day 10 dis
sipale Them.
In leaving De Fuca's straits anxiously
watched for De Fuca's Pillar, aud soon OBJ
tanned a sketch Of it,
During the night Of the Sd, we lost sight
Of the Po. poise, and the return signal to
our guns 'oon became inaudible. The only
guide one has on this coast duling the fogs,
is the lead and vessels drifting into less
water than fifteen fathoms, should anchor
until they obtain wind 10 cary them of.
The weather continued cold and chilly,
with light rain and we passed down the
coast in eighty and ninety fathoms water.
The soundings varied from rock, gravel, and
sand, TO soA unciuous mud, of deep blue
color.
The morning Of the 9th August the Por-
poise was discovered astern, which relieved
inc from any apprehension Of detention.
The soundings were somewhat peculiar
for it was found that in our progress down
the coast, they increased almost regularly
until ninety iathoms was reached but, a
short distance beyond that depth, and at
about fifteen miles from the coast, the bank
suddenly fell of, and no bottom was 10 be
obtained with line Of two hundred and
two hundred and fifty fathoms long.
On the 9th, at daylight, Cape Disappoint-
ment was in sight and at ten o'clock we
were near the cape. The whale-ship Orc.
zimbo, was off at the same lime, the crew
OF which was much affected with the sour
Wy ] therefore sent to her medical assist
ance. The Flying Fish joined us al noon
when Captain Hudson came on board, and
from him | learned the particulars of the
loss of the Peacock.
1t vii! be necessary in the first place to
state, that at Oahu, Sandwich Islands, pre-
vions TO the departure of tbs squadron on
their several cruises, had furnished the
Peacock, PorPoisc, and tenders with direc-
lions for their passing the bar, which OBJ
tanned from Captain SPalding, Of the ship
Lausanne, vessel Of five or six hundred
tons burden, which had just returned from
the Columbia river, whittier she had taken
a number Of missionaries and their Stores
These appeared to be carefully drawn up,
and Captain Spalding informed me that they
could be depended upon The fact shat 50
large ship had been nayigalrd by them,