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her sick husband, but the Father and Mother was watching their Son, with the most parental affection. After boiling him some rice and leaving more with his mother, I left the village and returned safe on board.
25. This day was kept in mirth and festivity by all the Columbia's Crew, and the principal Chiefs of the sound, by invitation, din'd on board ship. The Natives took a walk around the work shops on shore. They was surprized at seeing three tire of wild fowl roasting, at one of the houses indeed we was a little surprized at the novelty of the sight ourselves, for at least there was 20 Geese roasting at one immense fire, and the Ship's Crew appear'd very happy, most of them being on shore. The Indians cou'd not understand why the Ship's and houses was decorated with spruce bows. At 12 clock fir'd a federall Salute, 95 and ended the day toasting our sweethearts and wifes.
1792. January 1. This day, being down sound, with the Jolly boat after game. I stopt at the village. Visited Yethlan the sick Chief, and found him much better. The family treated me extremely well. I received many pressing invitations from the rest of the Chiefs, for to visit their houses, and complied with most of them, and was particularly pleas'd at visiting Wickananish' s dwelling, who this day had given an entertain- ment 96 to all the warriors of his Villages, with many visitors from distant villages. As soon as the King saw me I was call'd towards him, and seated upon his right. This house was about 80 foot long, and 40 broad, and about 12 feet high, with a flat roof. The King was elevated about two feet higher than the company, with a Canopy over his head, stuck full of animals teeth. The Company consisted of above 100 men, all considerably advanced in years. The Women belonging to the house was in an apartment by themselves, busily employ'd making their Bark Garment. The Machines for that purpose,
95 A salute of thirteen cannon shots. Martinez in his diary gives the fol- lowing explanation: "They told me that the reason for not giving more shots each time was since there were thirteen of the American states and thirteen stars in the canton of tneir flag, they had orders from their Congress to fire these salvos with a like number of shots."
96 This entertainment took place at Opitsitah, the regular dwelling place of the tribe, on Meares Island. Hoskins tells us that they had only returned from their winter village at Okerminnah a week or so before. He gives the date of the festivities as the 31 st December and enters much more fully into the details.
