1792'
July-
quality, in great abundance, which were barf'-ed for (hcet-copper, and blue cloth : thole articles being in the highcft elHmation amongfl them. Moft of thefe people underflood the language of Nootka, though it did not appear to be generally fpoken. The Ty-eie, or chief of the village, paid us an early vifit, and receiv- ed from me fome prelents which highly delighted him. I underflood his name to be Clujlakees. He acknowledged Maqidnna to be a greater chief; as he alfo did Wicananijfi ; but, fo far as I could learn, he did not confider himfelf to be under the authority of either. On inquiring if Maquinna was at the village, he anfwered in the negative, faying they feldom vifited ; and that it was a journey of four days acrofs the land to Nootka found, which from hence towards the s.s.w. is about 20 leagues diflant. Accompanied by fome of the officers, Mr. Menzies, and our new gue.T; Chejlakees, I repaired to the village, and found it pleafantly fitua- ted on a floping hill, above the banks of a fine frefh-water rivulet, dif- charging itfelf into a fmall creek or cove. It was expofed to a fouthern afpe6t, whilfl higher hills behind, covered with lofty pines, (heltered it completely from the northern winds. The houfes, in number thirty- four, were arranged in regular flreets ; the larger ones were the habi- tations of the principal people, who had them decorated with paintings and other ornaments, forming various figures, apparently the rude de- figns of fancy ; though it is by no means improbable, they might annex fome meaning to the figures they defcribed, too remote, or hieroglyphi- cal, for our comprehenfion. The houfe of our leader Chejlakees was diftinguifhed by three rafters of flout timber raifed above the roof, ac- cording to the architefture of Nootka, though much inferior to thofe I had there feen, in point of fize ; the whole, from the oppofite fide of the :reek, prefented a very pitturefque appearance. On our landing, three or four of the inhabitants, only, came down to receive us at the beach ; the refl quietly remained near their houfes. Thefe, Chejlakees informed me, were his near relations, who confequent- ly received, in the fhape of prelents, compliments from me, with which they feemed greatly pleafed. The
