foul weather, they advanced to the northward with difficulty, being sometimes driven out of sight of land; but, on the 29th, they discovered an extensive sound, which was found to be called Nootka; and anchored within the entrance, in lat. 49° 33' N., long. 233° 12' E. Here the country presented a different aspect, there being numerous lofty mountains, with snow-clad summits, while the intervening valleys, and the whole sea-coast, appeared like one vast and rich forest of pine and cypress.
The coast was soon found to be inhabited; and several natives, coming off in canoes, approached the ships with much ceremony; reciting long harangues, singing soft and melodious songs, shaking a kind of rattles, and strewing handfuls of feathers, and of red powder, towards their visitors. Their language had no affinity to the Tahitian, but seemed akin to that of Mexico. They had less vivacity than the South Sea Islanders, but had also less wantonness and violence, their behaviour being generally quiet and inoffensive. Yet they were no strangers to war and cruelty; for among the articles which they afterwards brought to the ships for sale, were human skulls, and hands not quite stripped of the flesh, the rest of which they signified that they had eaten.
No European ships had been here before, for the Spaniards who sailed along this coast in 1775, did not visit the people of Nootka Sound; yet they were acquainted with commerce, and with the use of metals, and had tools and ornaments of iron, brass, &c., procured from the interior. Two silver table spoons, probably Spanish, they sold to our people; from whom they eagerly sought for iron and brass. The articles which they offered for
