276 JOHN BOIT
nent between Nootka 11 (or King George's Sound) and Cliquot 12 (or Coxes harbour). For these severall days past we had seen whales, drift wood, feathers, kelp, etc. All signs of its vicinity. Breakers pt. 13 bore NEBE 8 leagues, high land back, and snow perceivable on some of the mountains. Wind from Southward.
5. N. Latt. 49 5'; Correct W. Long. 125 26' O 1 This day anchor in Coxes harbour, 14 and found it very commodious. This Harbour is made remarkable by three remarkable round Hills. 15 abreast its entrance. Hannah, 16 Chief of the village Ahhousett, 17 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 Nan- tucket whale boats. The dress of these Indians was either the Skin of some Animal, or else a Blankett of their own manu- factory, made of some kind of Hair. 18 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
11 This sound is situated in latitude 49 32' north, longitude 126 35' west. By general consent its discovery is attributed to Captain James Cook, who .spent some weeks there in March and April, 1778; though it is now known that the Spaniards had seen land near its entrance in August, 1774. Captain Cook first named it King George's Sound, but later changed it to Nootka, believing that to be the native name. Cook's Third Voyage, vol. 2, p. 288, 4to. ed. 1785. As to the probable origin of the name, see Walbran's Place Names, p. 359. During the early years of the maritime fur trade it was of considerable commercial importance; the seizure of Meares' vessels and the threatened war between Britain and Spain made it. in 1790, world-known.
12 Clayoquot Sound is about fifty miles to the southward of Nootka. It com- prises a number of inlets coverins; an area of about thirty miles in length and sixteen in breadth. The Port Cox of Meares was near the entrance to this sound, probably on the east side of Stubbs Island.
13 Now Estevan Point, the southern entrance of Hope Bay, as Cook called the water between it and Woody Point, now Cape Cook; Nootka Sound is one of its inlets. It was in this vicinity that the Spaniards, in the Santiago, under Juan Perez, anchored on 8th August, 1774.
14 Named by Meares in 1788 after John Henry Cox of Canton, who is frequently referred to in the acrimonious discussion that went on between Meares and Dixon after the appearance of the former's Voyages. See a sketch of it in Meares Voyages, 4to. ed. p. 202.
1 5 These are well known landmarks today. They are on Meares Island; th highest is called Lone Peak.
i6This was Chief Cleaskinah, who exchanged names with Captain Hanna of the Sea Otter in 1786. Meares met him in June, 1788, and describes him as "about forty and carried in his looks all the exterior marks of pleasantry and good humour." Meares Voyages 4to. ed. p. 136. Gray had met him in March, 1789. Haswell in his first Log says he "seemed a very intelligent old fellow." The cus- tom of exchanging names as a token of friendship was prevalent on this coast and is mentioned by Meares, Roquefeuil and many others.
i7Ahousat, an Indian village, now on Flores Island in Clayoquot Sound; but at this time the tribe were still living at their original home on Vargas Island in the same sound, from which they had an uninterrupted view of _the ocean. This old village site, now abandoned, was called Ahous, and thus gives its name to
1 8 The celebrated dogs' hair blankets of the Coast Salish. For a discussion of this subject, see Washington Historical Quarterly, vol. be, pp. 83-92.
