Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 6.djvu/192

186 186 DR. JOHN SCOULER. that 1 since that time the Americans had always employed the Indians to supply them with this essential article. 6ih As most of the Indians had left us this morning, we went about four miles up the inlet in the boat. In one place we saw the smoke of an Indian lodge, but none of its inmates made their appearance. The western branch of the inlet which we had been exploring is about a mile broad, surrounded on each side by steap & lofty moun- tains, covered with pine trees. The scenery of some of our Highland lochs would be very similar if the hills would support as rich a vegetation. On our return we landed for a few minutes on a small rocky point which afforded some specimens. In this situation the Lilium pudicum grew in abundance, although unfortunately out of flower. The pear-shaped granular roots of this plant are much sought after by the Indians & is eaten raw; its taste is not disagre[e]able, & it contains far more farina- ceous matter & less savoury [?] than the roots of most Liliacese. 7th. We now set out on our departure from this part of the N. W. Coast, and although the wind was unfavour- able, we succeeded in getting 8 miles down the inlet, and came to anchor in a small but secure harbour on its west- ern side. In this situation we found a few Indians employed in fishing. They sold us two fine halibut, weighing about 100 Ibs. each, & brought a good number of haunch backed salmon. The salmon were mostly females, & were larger & of a more vivid colour than the males ; their snout was not prolonged, nor was their haunch nearly so much de- veloped as in the males. The method the natives have of procuring halibut is very curious. They select a bifurcating twig of the birch tree, & to one of its bifurcations they fix a sharp, straight piece of bone, with its point directed in an opposite man-