Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 17.djvu/16



8 O. B. SPERLIN

and "good humored" writes Vancouver ; while "civil," "friend- ly," and "orderly" recur probably a hundred times in his jour- nal. "We never observed anything contrary to the most per- fect friendship and confidence which they repose in us," says Don Maurelle 26 of Heceta's landing at Trinidad Bay; "they were not only pleasant in intercourse but affectionate." Even concerning the Indians at the Quinault, where a detachment of Spaniards was cut off a few days later, the same journalist speaks of their great cordiality. "They seemed quite pleased at meeting us," says Eraser; 27 "happy to see us," "pleased in our company," "wished to be friendly to strangers," "they carried no arms, as testimony to our friendship." Of another tribe 28 he says, "Knowing our indiscretion, and dreading a like attempt [to run the rapids] they voluntarily transported our canoes overland to a little river beyond the rapids." Another tribe received him 29 and his men as if they had been long lost relatives. "One tribe," he 30 says, "did not expect us, but were so happy at our return that they lent us their canoes while they themselves went on foot to their villages." When Thompson was in desperate straits, due to the impassable condition of the torrential tributaries of the Kootenay, a chief, unable to get a volunteer to guide him, said that while he was alive the white man should not perish in the mountains for want of a guide and hunter. He went himself, and proved to be a noble, manly and humane guide.

In countless ways their actual treatment bore out these nu- merous and generous words of praise. Indians on Hood's Canal presented Vancouver 31 with fish, roots, and other articles of food "in such a way as to convince us that they had much pleasure in so doing." On Bute's Channel, when his 32 boats were in difficulty, they "voluntarily lent their aid to the utmost of their power, and were rewarded for their cordial disinter-

26 Harrington : Miscellany: Don Antonio Maurelle.

27 Journal: pp. j$7ff.

29 Tc

30 1,

31 V

ournal: p. 187. ournal: p. 192. ournal :

1: p. 210. /oyage: Vol. II., p. 91.

i* P. *3S-