Part 17

While the Schooner's People were viewing the Cloaths, Word was brought that the _Eskemaux_ were coming, who may be heard shouting almost before that they can be discerned, the Schooner's People repaired aboard. On the Colours aboard the Snow being hoisted, the Schooner's People displayed theirs; but the Snow being the nearest, and the Snow's People so urged the _Eskemaux_ to come along-side them, that they were afraid to pass. The _Eskemaux_ had no large Boats with them, only their Canoes, three of which came afterwards along-side the Schooner. It was perceived that none of the leading People were in the Canoes; they exposed no Marks or Shew of any Trade they had, which was usual for them to lay on the Outside their Canoes; nevertheless they were presented with Rings. It was some Time before they began to trade with the Snow's People, and then it was carried on in a very peremptory Manner.

The People in the Schooner, a light Wind springing up, weighed Anchor, with a Design to proceed up the Inlet, expecting to be followed by the _Eskemaux_, when they saw that they were not Associates with the Snow's People, so to have a future Opportunity of trading with them. It was also consistent with the Design they had of searching this Inlet, the first Opportunity that offered. They took their Leave of Capt. _Goff_ as they passed, and when advanced further beat their Drum. The _Eskemaux_ quitted the Snow and came after the Schooner. The Fire Arms were all primed and in order aboard the Schooner, but concealed; each Man had his Station; and they were ordered to treat the _Eskemaux_ as Men, and to behave to them in an orderly Manner; no hallooing, jumping, or wrestling with them when they came aboard; not to refuse some of the _Eskemaux_ to come aboard, and let others, as there were but nine Canoes in all.

As the _Eskemaux_ came along-side the Schooner, they were presented each with a Biscuit, a Person standing in the main Chains with a Basket of Biscuit for that Purpose. Then they aboard the Schooner shewed a Kettle, a Hatchet, and some other Things, which seemed much to please the _Eskemaux_. One of them attempting to get into the Schooner, two of the People helped him in: He was received civilly on the Quarter-deck; the trading Box shewed him, a Spoon, a Knife, and a Comb with which he touched his Hair and seemed desirous of, were given him. Other _Eskemaux_ were by this Time aboard. They were presented with Fish-hooks, small Knives, Combs, and a King _George_'s Shilling apiece, which they carefully put into their Sleeves. In the interim the _Eskemaux_ who came first aboard was gone to the Side, and called to another yet in the Canoe under the Title of _Capitaine_. The _Eskemaux_ so called to immediately came aboard, saluted the Commander with three Congees, and kissed each Cheek. He was presented with a Spoon and a Knife. Being shewn the Goods, appeared very desirous of a File, offering old Cloaths for it. But the Commander signified he would not trade for old Cloaths, but _Shoeeock_ (which is Whalebone in their Language) or Skins; and the latter he denoted to the _Capitaine_ by a Piece of white Bear Skin that the _Capitaine_ had brought in his Hand. The _Capitaine_ expressed by his Action that he had not either Bone or Skins: He was then presented with the File; was shewed a Matchcoat, which he surveyed very accurately; signed to the Commander if he was not come round from the South-west, meaning, as supposed, from _Quebeck_ or the Gulph of _St. Lawrence_. Afterwards took the Commander under his Arm, and shewed a Desire of going into the Cabbin, which was complied with. He passed the Door first, and sat down in as regular a Manner as any _European_, having first accurately looked about him; but there were no Fire-Arms in Sight. Refused Wine, drank Spruce Beer; was shewed a Sample of all the Kind of Goods, with which he seemed well pleased; and it was signified to him that there was Plenty of them. While in the Cabbin the other _Eskemaux_ who were on Deck, called to their _Capitaine_, they were invited down. Three of the _Eskemaux_ came, but it was observable the _Capitaine_ covered the Goods with a Woollen Cloth, which lay on the Table. They were presented with Beef and Pudding, which they took, and returned on Deck. The _Eskemaux Capitaine_ put the Goods into the Box himself very honestly, and seeming to admire a small Brass-handled Penknife, it was presented to him. He then returned on Deck, pointed to the Sun, lowered his Hand a little, then made a Sign of sleeping by shutting his Eyes, and laying his Hand to his Cheek, and shewed with his Hand to have the Schooner to come to an Anchor just above. By which it was understood that a little after that Time the next Day he would be there with Trade. The Schooner, being by this Time opposite to a narrow Passage or Streight formed by Islands, through which the _Eskemaux_ had come into this Inlet, the _Capitaine_ ordered his People into their Canoes, and retired with a Congee himself, after repeating the Commander's Name, to see if he had it right, and which he had been very industrious to learn while he was in the Cabbin. The Commander attended him to the Side; and seeing in his Canoe a War-bow and Arrows, which are of a curious Construction, pressed him to let him have them, though the same Thing as asking a Man to part with the Sword he wore. The _Capitaine_, by Signs, shewed he could not part with it, and seemed to express it with great Reluctance that he could not. This Circumstance, and their having no Women with them, caused the Schooner's People to think they looked upon themselves, when they set out, as coming amongst their Enemies. The Drum was beat until they were out of Sight; and the _Capitaine_, just before he lost Sight of the Schooner by being shut in by the Islands, pointed to the Sun, and the anchoring Place. The _Eskemaux_, while aboard, behaved with great Decency and Silence; though at first they began to jump and halloo, as they had done aboard the Snow; but finding the People of the Schooner not so disposed, soon left off.

Soon after the Schooner was anchored in an excellent Harbour, the Snow's Boat came along-side, with the first Mate and Agent. They were asked to mess; and it being enquired of them how far they had been with the Longboat in the last Trip, said to Latitude 57° 14´: Had seen no _Eskemaux_, but within a few Days, though they had been out fourteen Days. The Mate said, that he had chased a trading Boat, with two _Eskemaux_ in it, who had endeavoured to avoid them, and dodged amongst the Islands; but he came up with them as though he had been a Privateer's Boat; run bolt aboard them, and so frightened the _Eskemaux_ that they fell on their Knees, cried out, _Tout Comerado_, and they would have given him all they had. He said they took out the Whalebone, which he brought aboard, about a Hundred and fifty Weight, and paid them for it as much as he saw the Captain give. He saw other _Eskemaux_ at times ashore, where they invited him, but would not venture; and fired a Blunderbuss, charged with thirteen Bullets, over them, which caused some of them to fall down, others to bow. Some _Eskemaux_ came along-side, and traded their Cloaths; but with great Fear, crying out, _Tout Comerado_, as he had four Men armed standing in the Bow of the Boat. Said that those _Eskemaux_ had, who were just gone from the Schooner, the Peoples Cloaths who had been trepanned the last Year, particularly a brown Waistcoat, which had had white Buttons on it, and a white Great-coat. The Great-coat meant was a _French_ Matchcoat, which the _Eskemaux_ Captain had on, made up in a Frock according to the Manner that they wear them. The supposed brown Jacket was a _French_ brown Cloth, and there were two _Eskemaux_ who had them. The Mate said the Schooner's People had talked of some Inlets; but no Answer was made, on which he declared there was no Inlet between _Nesbit_'s Harbour and where they then were, nor any Inlet to Northward between that and Latitude 57° 14´. After making some Enquiries, as to what the Schooner's People further intended, quitted, and made for the Streight the _Eskemaux_ had passed through.

This is mentioned as an Instance of what Caution should be used, as to the Choice of Persons sent on Expeditions to explore unfrequented or unknown Parts, as the Adventurers may be Sufferers, and the Reason of their being so a Secret, and thereon pronounce decisively no Advantages are to be made, thus deprived of what might be greatly to their private Emolument in Time under a proper Conduct, and to the Benefit of the Publick. And there is a further Misfortune attending an improper Choice, which every social and generous Man will consider. That according to the Impressions that _Indians_ receive on the first Acquaintance, a lasting Friendship may be expected, or an Enmity and Jealousy very difficult to remove, who, in the interim, will execute their Revenge; not on those who gave the Offence, but on all indiscriminately of the same Complexion, when an Opportunity offers. Reasons would be unnecessarily urged in Support of what Experience proves, and of which there have been several melancholy Examples on this Coast. By a Privateer from _New York_, some Years since, the first Offence was given; those who have gone since have done nothing to mollify or abate this Enmity and Revenge. There could be no Expectation of a Reconciliation with these _Indians_, to the great Improvement of Commerce in various Branches, but by the Measures taken, the sending some of his Majesty's Ships into these Parts to explore and get a Knowledge of the Coast; and the Commanders to establish a Regulation, which will be a Satisfaction and Encouragement to every fair Trader; and where the Trade long since might have been brought to some Perfection, had it not been from the little dirty Avarice of those employed by private Adventurers, who hindered the original Design having a due Effect; and by interfering the one with the other, to their mutual Prejudice, they prevented those Returns on their Voyages which might have been otherwise made. The Consequence was, all future Attempts were dropt, and it was indeed rendered almost impossible that any fresh Undertakings should meet with Success, by the Difficulties flung in the Way on Account of the Natives, but which will now be effectually removed by the Government giving their Assistance.

The next Morning three People were sent from the Schooner to go on the Heights, to discover the Water the _Eskemaux_ had gone into, and to see if the _Eskemaux_ were coming. The Account brought back was, that there was seen an _Indian_ trading Boat or Shallop under Sail, which presently tacked and stood towards four other Shallops. They all lowered Sail, and the _Eskemaux_ seemed to be consulting together. Soon after the People saw the Snow's Longboat coming, the Shallops hoisted Sail, then went one Canoe, afterwards two more, to the Snow's Longboat, while the Shallops crouded away. The Schooner's People, after this Time, had no Opportunity of seeing the _Eskemaux_; and attributed their coming no more to their Fear of meeting the Longboat, or the bad Weather, it being wet and blustering for the several succeeding Days. But they learned, after the Schooner had returned to _Philadelphia_, that those in the Snow's Longboat followed the Shallops, came up with them, and took what they had. The Reason is apparent for their not coming to the Schooner as they had no Trade, and as they might have a Suspicion that the Schooner's People had a Connivance with those in the Boat, especially as they might see the three People from the Schooner standing on the Heights.

The Commander searched the Head of this Inlet, the Shores of which were the most barren of any that had yet been seen, from the Sea to the Head of it, about nine Leagues. Upon their Return they found the Snow gone; they then went through the Streight by which they saw the _Eskemaux_ pass to explore that Water. From this the Discoverer passed between Islands, without going out to Sea into a second Inlet; and from that to a third from where he had met the Snow, and the seventh from _Nesbit_'s Harbour. And the seventh or last Inlet ran a North and Westerly Course, and terminated the furthest inland, or had the most Western Longitude of any of the Inlets; and its Head about fifteen Leagues from the Sea.

These last three Inlets to Seaward are separated by very large Islands, and have Islands lying off directly athwart their Entrance, so that it is difficult to discover, when within these Islands, that there is any Outlet to the Sea. The Islands have little Wood on them, and are mostly barren Rock; but the main Land much as in the other Parts, only the Inland more level. The blue Ridge of Mountains appeared plainer than from any other Part. The Latitude of the furthest Inlet about 56.

Having explored these respective Waters and adjacent Country, and _Davis_'s Inlet, consequently, though it is difficult to which properly to affix the Name; and the Autumn being far advanced, as was apparent from the Birch Leaves becoming yellow, the Berries Frost-bit, the Pines and Spruce turning brown, severe Gales, Snow and Sleet at times, and excessive cold on the high Land; so as nothing further could be carried on with any Spirit, but excessive Fatigue, and the Health of the People, as well preserved as on first setting out, would be now impaired, with no certain Prospect of doing any Thing further that was material, sufficient Harbours having been found; on the 20th of _September_ they set out on their Return.

Leaving the Land favoured with pleasant Weather, an Opportunity waited for to make an accurate Survey of the Fishing Bank, and to find the Distance it lay from the Land, which from the Soundings on making the Land, the seeing the Islands of Ice aground, and the Account of _Davis_, was known to be there, and named by him _Walsingham_'s Bank, after the true Patriot and generous Patron of a Discovery of a North-west Passage. Sounding about a League from Land, with one Hundred and fifty Fathom of Line, had no Ground. At about six Leagues from Land, twenty-five Fathoms afterwards various Soundings, and catched a great many Cod, large and full fed, reckoned by the People aboard, to be very extraordinary Fish, some of whom from _Boston_ followed the Employ of fishing for Cod. The Bank was concluded to be about nine Leagues broad, and ninety Fathom Soundings on the going off it, on the Eastern Side; and it was concluded, on a pretty good Assurance, that it reaches from Lat. 57 to Lat. 54, if not further; but the Weather proving boisterous, as they ran to the Southward, could not continue their Soundings.

The Schooner sounded with a Hundred and fifty Fathom of Line, close by an Island of Ice, of a surprising Magnitude, between the Bank and the Shore, which was aground, and they did not get Soundings.

FINIS.

ERRATA.

Page 16. L. 23. de Fuentes. The, _read_ de Fuentes, the. 44. L. 11. de Fonte's, _read_ de Fonte's Account. 45. L. 36. Don Ronquillo, _read_ Don Pennelossa. 49. L. 18. from, _read_ in. 54. L. 11. to the Southward, _read_ to the Northward. 61. L. 15. it, _read_ this Mission. 67. L. 29. as that worthy, _read_ that worthy. 82. L. 6. New Spain, _read_ Florida. L. 9. Florida, _read_ Peruan Part. 83. L. 28. is consistent, _read_ is not consistent. 90. L. 17. Rivers and Harbours, _read_ River and Harbour. 106. L. 32. in the Year 1746, _read_ until the Year 1745. 111. L. 6. between the Sea, _read_ the Ocean and the Sea. 136. L. 14. nigh Summit, _read_ high Summit.

DIRECTIONS for placing the MAPS.

Map of _de Fonte_'s Discoveries, in Front. Map of _New Spain_, from _Torquemada_, Page 86. Map of the Discoveries in _Hudson_'s Bay, Page 122.

Just published, in QUARTO,

Very proper to be bound with this Book,

I.

VOYAGES from ASIA to AMERICA,

Made by the _Russians_ for completing the Discoveries of the North-west Coast of _America_. Translated from the _High Dutch_ of M. MULLER, of the Royal Academy of _Petersburgh_. Illustrated with Maps. The Second Edition.

II.

The History of KAMTSCHATKA and the KURILSKI ISLANDS, with the Countries adjacent.

Illustrated with Maps and Cuts. Published at _Petersburgh_ in the _Russian_ Language, by Order of her Imperial Majesty; and translated into _English_ by JAMES GRIEVE, M.D.

* * * * *

Transcriber's Notes

The sidenotes April 1708 and June 1708 were printed at the beginning of each page of the chapter in the original. This duplication has been removed.

The corrections in the Errata list have been implemented, the first of which is on page 15, not 16.

Hyphenation has been standardised.

Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected.

Other variations in spelling, punctuation and accents are as in the original.

Italics are represented thus _italic_.

The long s has been replaced throughout.