Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 22.djvu/314



302 JOHN BOIT

mirably. 109 Took a hawser and got her along side the Ship, and soon had her rig'd.

24. The Sloop Adventure is ready for sea. 110 Capt. Has well, 1st mate of ship, went on board and took charge, taking with him Mr. Waters (4th mate) and a crew of ten Seamen and trades- men. I think she was one of the prettiest vessels I ever saw, of about 45 tons, with a handsome figure head and false badges, and other ways touch'd off in high stile. There was not a Butt either in the Planks on deck or sides, and the plank not above nine inches wide. She was victuall'd for a four months cruize, and supplied with Articles for the Queen Charlotte Isles trade, on which route 't was meant she shou'd go, while the Ship proceeding along the Southern Coast.

25. Pleasant weather, wind at SE. In the morning got the Remainder of our affairs from the shore, and unmoor'd. Left Adventure Cove, and stood down Sound, with the Sloop in company. We left our log houses all standing. Anchor'd abreast the Village Opitsatah, but found it entirely deserted. 111 Observ'd very few Canoes moving.

During our long tarry in Adventure Cove, we all enjoy'd good health, although the Crew was at times very much ex- posed. The boatswain's sickness commenced before our ar- rival in the Cove. The weather was generally very fine, and very seldom had Snow, and never Ice thicker than a Spanish Dollar, but experienced frequent heavy rains. We pick'd Whurtle and Blue Berries, throughout the winter, which was very fine, and Whurtle Berry pudings was quite common with us. We kept the Crew continually supplied with Spruce beer, and their breakfast and supper was Tea boiled from the green Spruce boughs sweetned with Molasses. Perhaps this method kept the Scurvy off. However they did not eat much Salt pro- visions, as we was generally supplied with Poultry, Venison, and fish.

109 Hoskins says that on the first attempt she ran a little more than her length and stopped; the ground proving false the ways sank under her; the carpenters relaid the ways and she was successfully launched the next day. Haswell is to the same effect with slightly different details. The first attempt was made on 22nd February.

no This took, according to Haswell and Hoskins, about a month, and not two days, as Boit has it.

in The natives had suddenly removed to Echahchist on Village Island. This village is shown on Meares map already mentioned (Meares Voyages, p. 202, 4to. ed). So precipitate had been their flight that they had left many of their domestic utensils scattered about their houses and hidden in th bushes.