Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Interview Of Captain Vancouver With The Chiefs Of Nootka Sound.
Having taken our seats , about thirty men began each to , beat with a stick on a hollow board , in order to assemble the inhabitants of thevillage to that spot ; this ' summons being readily obeyed , Maquinna informed the assembled crowd with great earnestness , and in a speech of some length , that our visit was to be considered as a great honour done to him , and that it had taken place in consequence of the civil and orderly behaviour of all the inhabitants ofthe Sound under his
authority towards the English and Spaniards . This , he observed , was not the case with IVicdnanisb , or any other chief whose people committed aCts of violence aud depredation on the vessels and their crews that visited their country ; but that such behaviour was not practised at Nootka , and that-for this reason they had been more frequently visited ; by which means , their wealth in copper , cloth , and various other articles of great value to them , had been increased far exceeding that
of any of their neighbours . He particularly mentioned some tribes , but by appellations we were not acquainted with , over whom he seemed to consider our visit to him as a great triumph ; . and from his manner of speaking , there evidently appeared to exist no small degree of jealousy between them . He then proceeded to " enumerate the various good qualities that marked the Character ofthe Spaniards and
the English ; that both were strongly attached to himself and his . people , and that he hoped that we should be much pleased by being entertained according to their manner of receiving visitors . - The performers I believe were all in readiness without , and anxious to begin their part ; -for the instant Maquinna had ceased speaking , the hollow board music recommencedand a man entered the housemost
, , fantastically dressed in a war garment , which reached to the calves of his legs , but not below them ; this was variously ornamented , as was also his face with black and red paint , so that his features appeared to be most extravagantly distorted , or more properly speaking , they were scarcely distinguishable ; his hair was powdered , or rather
entirely covered with the most delicate white down of young sea fowl , and " in his hand he bore a musket with a fixed bayonet , making altogether a most savage , though at the same time a whimsical figure ; this man was followed by about twenty more , decorated with considerable variety after the same fashion , but differently armed ; some like himself with muskets , others with ' pistols , swords , daggers , spearsbowsarrowsfish-gigsand hatchets , seemingly with intent
, , , , to display their wealth and power , by an exhibition ofthe several im-r plements they possessed , as well for the use of war , as for obtaining the different necessaries of life . This indescribable group of figures was drawn up before us ; and notwithstanding we were perfectly satisfied of the harmless and peaceable intentions of these people , yet I believe there was not one
of our party entirely free from those sensations which will naturally arise from the sight of such unusual objeCts ; whose savage and barbarous appearance was not a little augmented by their actions and vociferous behaviour , accompanied by an exhibition , that consisted principally-of jumping in a very peculiar manner , In this effort the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Interview Of Captain Vancouver With The Chiefs Of Nootka Sound.
Having taken our seats , about thirty men began each to , beat with a stick on a hollow board , in order to assemble the inhabitants of thevillage to that spot ; this ' summons being readily obeyed , Maquinna informed the assembled crowd with great earnestness , and in a speech of some length , that our visit was to be considered as a great honour done to him , and that it had taken place in consequence of the civil and orderly behaviour of all the inhabitants ofthe Sound under his
authority towards the English and Spaniards . This , he observed , was not the case with IVicdnanisb , or any other chief whose people committed aCts of violence aud depredation on the vessels and their crews that visited their country ; but that such behaviour was not practised at Nootka , and that-for this reason they had been more frequently visited ; by which means , their wealth in copper , cloth , and various other articles of great value to them , had been increased far exceeding that
of any of their neighbours . He particularly mentioned some tribes , but by appellations we were not acquainted with , over whom he seemed to consider our visit to him as a great triumph ; . and from his manner of speaking , there evidently appeared to exist no small degree of jealousy between them . He then proceeded to " enumerate the various good qualities that marked the Character ofthe Spaniards and
the English ; that both were strongly attached to himself and his . people , and that he hoped that we should be much pleased by being entertained according to their manner of receiving visitors . - The performers I believe were all in readiness without , and anxious to begin their part ; -for the instant Maquinna had ceased speaking , the hollow board music recommencedand a man entered the housemost
, , fantastically dressed in a war garment , which reached to the calves of his legs , but not below them ; this was variously ornamented , as was also his face with black and red paint , so that his features appeared to be most extravagantly distorted , or more properly speaking , they were scarcely distinguishable ; his hair was powdered , or rather
entirely covered with the most delicate white down of young sea fowl , and " in his hand he bore a musket with a fixed bayonet , making altogether a most savage , though at the same time a whimsical figure ; this man was followed by about twenty more , decorated with considerable variety after the same fashion , but differently armed ; some like himself with muskets , others with ' pistols , swords , daggers , spearsbowsarrowsfish-gigsand hatchets , seemingly with intent
, , , , to display their wealth and power , by an exhibition ofthe several im-r plements they possessed , as well for the use of war , as for obtaining the different necessaries of life . This indescribable group of figures was drawn up before us ; and notwithstanding we were perfectly satisfied of the harmless and peaceable intentions of these people , yet I believe there was not one
of our party entirely free from those sensations which will naturally arise from the sight of such unusual objeCts ; whose savage and barbarous appearance was not a little augmented by their actions and vociferous behaviour , accompanied by an exhibition , that consisted principally-of jumping in a very peculiar manner , In this effort the