The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-06


eminent echooi ~ the agency at Mean
bay, and the good work ~ the several n
dian agents gn5 have been IN charge
>esh Bay.
Mean bay or harbor Is , small cove max
ing into the south. or American side Of me
Strait Of FfIca seven miles east from Ia
tsozh island Cape Fiattery. The distance
from the eastern point called Baaaah. 10
Koitlzh. the western point, Is three miles.
Between the iwo points Is a small island
named Waa6da. which serves as a break
water TO protect the Indian village at the
western head Of The bay. which Is about
mile and hair from the island. The form
o. Seah bay IL nearly A crescent, with
fine sand beach extending nearly two
thirds Of the distance around II. During
the prevalence Of sOufheriy winds II forms
an excellent harbor for vessels bound down
the coast. and is generally used BY those
captains who are acquainted with the an
chorage whenever they are caught at the
entrance OF the Straits with A heaIOind
Baadah Point Is precipit0O' rocky
cliff. some thirty or forty feet high. ter
fninating In a narrow b1un only a few
yards wide. which continues out into the
water in the shape OF a reef. which Is
covered at high tide. The bluff II sand
stone. intersperEed with occasional small
boulders Of granite. and presents A singu-
Gent CONFUSION OF nature has upheaved
the strata. which look Ike great rows Of
immense tagging stones set up on their
edges. The direction Of the strata Is In
nearly parallel lines. running north north
west. with a dip 20 the east Of - degrees.
The reef extends into the water, gradually
sinking into a fine channel five fathoms
deep. and then, half mile from Baadah
Point. again rises above the surface. form
al
foIirths a. a mile long. and about one
fourth OF mile wice at its widest point.
covered with a thick growth OF frs; some
OF these fir trees are Of large size. The
island is precipit0us and nearly lnacces-
sibie, except on its southeastern point.
where the Indians make a landing.
The stones OF the reefs around the ISL
and and al Baaeah Polnt have been worn
into holes andcavities by the waves. and
nj low tide present 20 the naturalist some
OF the most beautiful natural aquariums I
have seen. The clear. transparent water
remaining IN them at low tide enables the
spectator 10 perceive the various fishes.
sheils and anifnalculae. and the beautifully
variegated and delicate moses. and ma
rine plants which grow and thrive In pro-
fusion
From Baadah Point there Is a fine sand
beach extending westward IN a crescent
form TO Neah village. some two miles dis
tant. About the center Of this bend the
beach IL bold. suddenly s.oping into four
and five fathoms OF water. The scene OF
the surf rolling up at this point is truly
grand, especially after a heavy southern or
western blow. ] have on several occasions
stood by the hour watching the great rol-
lers OF the Pacific coming in with ma
1estlc swell. without a ripple on their sur
face. gradually eliminating 70 a point. and
with one unbroken line Of a mile long.
dash down their creamy crests on the
sand with a noise like thunder. I have
been accustomed 10 the sight Of breakers
in a storm. and of pillows rolling on the
shore in various parts Of the world. but
do not recolleet OF any place where l have
enjoyed such n magnificent sight of the
grandeur and power of the ocean as on the
beach az Neah bay
Tho land Of Cape Flattery from It's OK
treme northwestern point 10 the head Of
Neah bay. Is composed Of hills rising al
most into mountains. composed Of sand
stone, hasaltic and conglomerate rocks.
covered with dense forest growth OF frs
hemiock. spruce and some cedar.
The Indian Villages.
From Neah bay TO the Pacific coast I'm 4
southwest direction Is a prairie, through
which runs a creek, which cmpties into
tho Pacific ocean az the Irdiaa village OF
Na-atch, four miles distant from Neah
bay. few miles youth OF Wa-atch IL an
other village called Tsoo-ess. and south OF
this Is another village called Ho-sett or
osettA These three Villages. with the VII
LACE OF Neah BAY. constitute the winter
residences OF the Makah tribe Of Indians
During the summer months they move 20
villages nearer Cape Flattery. ono Of which
" at kiddccubhut. a few miles west OF
Nesh Bay. another IS IN Tatoosh island
and third al Archawat, on the coast,
near Wa-atch. 50 as - - near the hall
but banks. The whaling grounds and the
fine seal fishing.
Tho Makah Indians.
In 1850. when 7 FIRST visited Neah
hay. sbe Makah tribe numbered
s7o persons. - 81 whom were strong
men or braves" ana the remainder w5-
men. children and slaves. Their if7eans II
subsistence were almost entirely drawn
rom the ocean. ana n that time their
principal food WAS dried halIhut dried
whale blueher and oil. salmon. true cod.
Gados morhua. cultus tai, Ophlsdou cI7n-
Eatus. black cod or beshow. An0plaponla
ffmhria. with various other kinds ~ small
er fish. and sheinsh ~ different kinds
such as mussels. crabs. CLAIMS. c1cklrs.
ltmpets, sea sAuts and enalis. ert1rus.
squ3 and harnar'es az late Years they
have accustomed themselves 20 SOME ~ tto
white mans food. such 49, naur. hard
bread. rire. beans ana potatoes. ara Iko
other Indians are very fond 81 molssses mp
Eyrup. which they cat WITH their bread ana
riee. aut All 'hcir other food as usually
creased with a plentiful supply 10 wnnle
oil : lave frequently eaten with them.
and must confess fhat dried halthut di~rrd
~ fresh sweet whale GA is not an ohie--
tionah'e repast O. hungry man
The Whale hiuhhrr is cent fa strips thrn
h5iea Is extract thc oii. which Is carefully
skinned or. ana after Being heNe1 arRla
10 expel the moisture. &c rut lu'e re.art-
hetag boiled Is hung ua ta the smoke and
dried and loNks Ike bacon
The haAbut cut tnfo min flakes. WI n
are dries IN the sur Without salt ana
when well rured g. nice either eaten div.
dipped 80 whale eli or Simply bal,d or
toasted before me FIRE
They HINT Whales In Canoes.
The NfakaAs are vsrtirnIa~fv FextaraYs
- handing thei~ cen>es s14 proceed tr
them fes~lsesiy many mites FROM lana ia
pursuit 10 whales or Nasss. in for fishing
On the hallh1t hanks rffefr miles north
vest frora thc care Their carses are
beautifully modelled reseuNli0r our finest
clipper SHIPS. THcy are formed fr1ru IA
single leg - cedar. carved out wEth sEil
and elegance. The Vest esr,Es are ma la
~ the Clycuuot and $itiinat tribes ga
2ncouNer Island r. G. 70 seH tHerG 70
the Nakahs bat few being made ev the
latter tribe. owing 60 the scarcity 81 cedar
in their vicinity.
In attacking whale. their canoes are
Invariably manned with eight uen-sx 10
pat6.e ore 20 steer and ere IN ire N1W %
throw The harpooa. Their harp,onS are
either made 20 hoop iron. old sheathirg
metal or Cat uusSe1 she1 sharre-e3 "a a
point. having nsrAs ~ Elk hsrn fastened
On escA SIDE q ths Sat surface % tho
fsasnt securely hourH vita M cherry