Page:Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and Round the World in the Years 1791–95, volume 1.djvu/289

May. were over-run with weeds; amongfl which M'ere found fcveral human I'culls, nnd other bones, promifcuoully feaitered about. Thudday 3. (Jn thurfflay morning we fat ferioudy to wo!-w r,n board, and on fhorc where the fail-makers were repairing and ahering the fails; coopers in- fpcHing the cafks; gunners airing the powder; and parti(s cutting wood, brewing fpruce beer, and filling water: whilft thole on board were as bulily employed, in necefTary repairs about the rigging; getting the pro- vifions to hand; clearing the main and after lujlds for the rei eption of Ihingle ballall, of which we had for fome time flood in much need; fome of our carpenters were ih)pping leaks about the bows, and the refl alfifled in caulking the Chatham's fides. The ferenity of the climate and feafon was extremely favorable to the execution of their feveral du- ties, as alfotoour aflronomical inquiries. The part of the coafl that we had now reached being nearly deflitute of inhabitants, few circuinflances occurred to divert our attention, or interfere with the purfuits in which we were all engaged. So little leifure or refl had been afforded in the feveral ports we had hitherto vifited fince we left the cape of Good Hope, that it was not Sunday 6. until this morning that our people could be indulged with a lioliday, for the purpofe of taking fome recreation and exercife on fhore. A few of the natives in two or three canoes favored us with their com- pany, and brought with them fome fifh and venifon for fale. The latter was extremely good, and very acceptable, as we had not obtained any; though on our liift arrival we had entertained hopes of procuring a fupply, from the numerous tracks of deer which appeared frefli, and in all di- reftions. Thefe people, in their perfons, canoes, arms, implements, &c. feemed torefeinble chiefly the inhabitants of Nootka; though lefs bedaubed with paint, and lefs filthy in their external appearance. They wore ornaments in their ears, but none were obferved in their nofes; foine of them un- derftood a few words of the Nootka language; they were clothed in the fkinsofdcer, bear, and fome other animals, but principally in a wool- len garment of their own manufa6lure, extremely well wrought. They did not appear to poffefs any furs. Their bows and implements they freely