Document 17: John Boit Meets and Trades with Northwest Coast Indians, 1791
John Boit, A New Log of the Columbia, 1790-1792, edited by Edmund S. Meany (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1921), p. 6-10.
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June 4 [,1791]. This day made the land, on the NW Coast of the American Continent between Nootka and Cliquot harbour [now called Clayoquot Sound]. For these severall days past we had seen whales, drift wood, feathers, kelp, etc. All signs of its vicinity. . . .
[June] 5. N. Latt. 49° 5´; W. Long. 125° 26´. This day anchor in Coxes harbour, and found it very commodious. This Harbour is made remarkable by three remarkable round Hills, abreast its entrance. Hannah, [a] Chief of the Ahhousett [a group of Nuu-chah-nulth Indians] came on board and appeared friendly. Above 300 of the Natives was alongside in the course of the day. Their canoes was made from the body of a tree, with stem and stern pieces neatly fixed on. Their models was not unlike our Nantucket whale boats. The dress of these Indians was either the Skin of some Animal, or else a Blankett of their own manufactory, made of some kind of Hair. This garment was slung over the right shoulder. They all appear'd very friendly, brought us plenty of fish and greens. We tarry'd in this harbour till the 16th [of] June; [we] landed our sick immediately on our arrival and pitch'd a tent for their reception, and although there was ten of them in the last stage of Scurvy, still they soon recover'd, upon smelling the turf and eating greens of various kinds. We buried severall of our sick up to the Hips in the earth, and let them remain for hours in that situation. We found this method of great service. The principall village in this harbour is called Opitsatah, and is governed by Wickananish, a warlike Chief. He and his family visited us often. The Indians brought severall Deer, and plenty of Rock Cod, Salmon, and other fish. Wild parsley, and a root call'd Isau or Isop by the natives and much resembling a small onion, was brought us in abundance. We purchas'd many of the Sea Otter skins in exchange for Copper, and blue Cloth. These Indians are of a large size, and somewhat corpulent. The Men wear no other covering but the garment before mentioned, and seem to have no sense of shame, as they appear in a state of Nature. The Women stand in great fear of the Males, but appear to be naturally very modest. Their garment is manufactured from the bark of a tree and is well executed, being so constructed as to cover them complete from the Neck to the Ancle. Both Male and Female wear Hats of a conicle form made out of strong reeds. On them is painted (in a rude manner) their mode of Whale fishery. Attoo, the Captain's servant (and a native of the Sandwich Isle [Hawaii]) ran away among the Indians. A chief coming on board, [we] plac'd a guard over him, and sent his Canoe back to the village with the news. They [the Indians] soon return'd with Mr. Attoo, and ransom'd their Chief. [That is, the crewmen of the Columbia returned the chief to his people in exchange for the return of Attoo to the ship.]
[June] 17. This day weigh'd the anchors and left Coxe's harbour. Fine weather, wind at SW. All hands once again on duty. Make the people use Spruce Tea, boil'd from the Boughs we took on board for that purpose, and although [it is] not very palatable, I believe is an excellent Antiscorbutic [an anti-scurvy medicine]. Bound along shore to the North and West. . . .
20. N. Latt. 50° 6´; W. Long. 128° 12´. Moderate breezes. At 8 P. M. abreast [a] Woody point. At daylight made sail for Chickleset sound, [put] out Pinnace [a longboat made for exploring in shallow waters], and sent her ahead of the ship to sound. At 9 A. M. abreast the entrance of the sound. Hove to. At 10 the pinnace made the signall for a harbour. Bore away, wind at NW. At Meridian [noon] anchor'd in a small Cove, (which we named Columbias). In this situation we was completely land lock'd. Vast many natives alongside. They appear'd much the same as those at Coxs harbour and talk'd their language. We laid in this harbour till the 26th, during which time got many Sea Otter and land furs from the Natives in exchange for Copper, Iron and Cloth, (with Beads, fish Hooks and such small stuff kept the Ship supplied with various kinds of fish and greens, with a few deer). These Natives was generally arm'd with Bows, arrows, and spears. Like those at Clioquot they would pilfer whenever an opportunity offer'd. Their Women were more Chaste than those we had lately left. But still they were not all Dianas. [Diana was a Roman goddess who disliked men and prized her virginity.] During our tarry here I visited one of the villages in the sound, found the Natives busily employ'd building Canoes, and packing provisions against the ensuing Winter. They treated me quite friendly. They dry their fish in the Sun, and then pack it in neat wooden boxes. Necessity is the mother of invention. . . .
[June] 28. N. Latt. 48° 42´; W. Long. 124° 0´. Enter'd the Straits of Juan De Fuca and hove to abreast the Village of Nittenatt, found strong tides. Vast many Natives off, with Sea Otter and other Furs, which we purchas'd with the same articles as before. [It] was evident that these Natives had been visited by that scourge of mankind—the Smallpox. The Spaniards, as the natives say, brought it among them. These Indians appear'd friendly.
N. Latt. 48° 23´; W. Long. 124° 12´. Kept beating about the entrance of De Fuca Straits till 3d July on SE parts off a small Isle call'd Tatooch [now called Tatoosh Island], we collected many Otters. These natives gave the preference to Copper. Fine Halibut and Salmon was procured in abundance. Nails, Beads etc. serv'd for this traffic [trade]. The Chief at Tatooch's Isle offer'd to sell us some young Children they had taken in war.
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[July] 8. N. Latt. 52° 10´; W. Long. 131° 12´. This day anchor'd in Barrells sound [now called Houston Steward Channel] on the SE part of the Queen Charlotte Isles, 20 fathoms [a fathom is six feet] off rocky bottom. Sent the Pinnace, with an Officer, to seek better anchorage, which was soon found. Got under way and stood up sound, and anchor'd in 15 fathom muddy bottom. A Chief by name Coyac came along side with plenty of other Indians. The Natives here are much stouter than any we had before seen, and appear to be very savage. The Men go quite naked except a skin over the shoulder. The Women are entirely cover'd with Garments of their own manufactory from the bark of trees. They appear to carry full sway over the men and have an incision cut through the under lip, which they spread out with a piece of wood, about the size and shape of a goose egg (some much larger). It's considered as an ornament, but in my opinion looks very gastly. Some of them booms out two inches from the chin. The women appear very fond of their offspring, and the Men of both. We remain'd in this sound till the 17th. During which time we purchas'd a good lot of Sea Otter and other furs chiefly for Iron and Cloth. Copper was not in demand. The boats were sent frequently after wood and water, but were always well arm'd. The Natives supplied us with plenty of Halibut and Rock Cod, for which we paid them in Nails. Wild fowl was plenty in this Sound, of which we caught and kill'd many. I landed at one of their villages, found the Indians comfortably lodg'd, and [they] kept large fires although the weather was temperate. When I went into one of their houses they was eating coast muscles and singing a warlike Song. They appear'd fond of our visit and never molested any thing in the boat. Their canoes are not made near so neat as those we had seen before, but I think they was more commodious. The females was not very chaste, but their lip pieces was enough to disgust any civilized being. However some of the Crew was quite partial.