Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 6.djvu/184

178 178 DR. JOHN SCOULER. species, & to abound in marine animals, as Sertularige, Crustacese ; we also found a Halothuria & a sp. of Patella. %4,tli. This afternoon we were coasting along Q. Char- lotte's Island, & at about 6 miles distance from the shore. We passed what we took to be an Indian village, & were not dissapointed, for a canoe came of[f] to us. They in- formed us that the name of their village was Skedans [?]. They had all of them blankets, & their hats were of a much neater shape & displayed far more ingenuity than those of the Cheenooks. They were also well supplied with fire arms. These people were much taller, & more robust? than those of the South. Their hair straight & black, & was tied in a knot on the crown of their heads. Their cheek bones were prominent, & all of them had some beard. Their conduct was bold and decided, bordering on ferocity. & while on board they behaved with the utmost selfishness. They seamed, however, to be frequently vis- ited by vessels, as they mentioned the names of several that [had] lately been on the coast. %5th. We were again visited by the Queen Charlotte islanders ; for the few things they had to sell they de- manded such exorbitant prices as convinced us they were in no want of European goods. The number of English words they knew surprised us, & it was soon evident that they had acquired their knowledge of English words from the Americans. The teeth of all these Indians are re- markably poor, I suppose from the quantity of sand & filth they eat with their food. Notwithstanding our short acquaintance with these people, it is very evident that they far excell the Indians of the Columbia in manly ap- pearance, ingenuity, & facility in imitating their civilised visitors. In two respects, however, they were far inferior to Cheenooks, in cleanliness & mildness of conduct. In the afternoon we were becalmed, & the men amused themselves in fishing the Squalus Acanthias which was