Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 22.djvu/311



LOG OF THE COLUMBIA 299

general custom to eat their own Vermin, and they are so plenty that they will often make a decent repast. The Men are generally thick set with flat noses and broad faces. The Women are pretty. Their eyes are rather small, and though they are not very quick and piercing, they give the counte- nance a frank, chearfull, and pleasing cast. We understood from the Natives that they sometimes made Human sacrifices, and shocking to relate, that they eat the flesh of such poor victims. However I do not believe that this custom is very common and only happens on some very particular Occasion. A prisoner of War is the person selected for this savage feast. 101 18. This day severall chiefs came on board, one of which we found was busily employ 'd talking with our Sandwich Island lad. Their conversation was soon put a stop to, and the Lad examin'd, but he denyd that the Chief ask'd him any improper questions. These Natives, always behaving so friendly, 102 occasion'd us to place too much confidence in them, and what a pity it is, that we cou'd not leave this port, with that opinion of them which we had heretofore held ; But alas ! We find them to be still a savage tribe, and only waiting an opportunity for to Massacre the whole of us, in cold blood. The Ship had been brought some days previous to this, to a bluff point of Rocks, where she lay'd as to a wharfe, not even touching the ground at low water. The Cannon and all the stores was landed here, as we was about hauling on the beach to grave and pay the Bottom. The situation of the Ship at this period was very favorable to their views, 103 and must have encouraged them with the hope of destroying the whole of us ; without the loss of a man on their side. However in this they wou'd have been mistaken, as we kept a strong watch, under the conduct of an Officer and was always guarded against

iot Hoskins accompanied Boit on this visit and enters much more fully into the description of this entertainment.

102 Hoskins nevertheless records that in the preceding October a hunting party had had some difficulty with th natives, who had behaved in a very rude manner, striving to take their fire arms from them and seeking to capture Captain Gray. Though Boit was of the party, he makes no allusion to the occurrence. It was thought that this action was instigated by Tootiscoosettle in revenge for hit treatment already mentioned.

103 Hoskins opposed this move, as it had the effect of separating the crew and left the ship and the fort out of sight of each other. "I only told Captain Gray." he says, "I hoped the native* would not take any advantage of the oppor- tunity which was presented them."