A Narrative of the Adventures and Sufferings, of John R. Jewitt: Only Survivor of the Crew of the Ship Boston, During a Captivity of Nearly Three Years Among the Savages of Nootka Sound: with an Account of the Manners, Mode of Living, and Religious Opinions of the Natives

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Seth Richards, 1815 - Indian captivities - 204 pages
 

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Page 2 - IDE, of the said District, hath deposited in this office, the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit : " Inductive Grammar, designed for beginners. By an Instructer." In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States...
Page 2 - ... for the encouragement of learning by securing the copies of Maps, charts, and books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and etching historical and other prints.
Page 31 - He then asked me if I would be his slave during my life— If I would fight for him in his battles— If I would repair his muskets and make daggers and knives for him — with several other questions, to all of which I was careful to answer, yes. He then told me that he would spare my life, and ordered me to kiss his hands and feet to show my submission to him, which I did. — In the...
Page 192 - I was with him, there was no danger of his being in the least troublesome. He accordingly consented, and I felt a sincere pleasure in freeing from fetters a man, who, though he had caused the death of my poor comrades, had, nevertheless, always proved my friend and protector, and whom I had requested to be thus treated, only with a view of securing my liberty. Maquina smiled, and appeared much pleased at this mark of attention from me. When I had freed the king from his irons, Captain Hill wished...
Page 196 - John, you know, when you was alone, and more than five hundred men were your enemies, I was your friend, and prevented them from putting you and Thompson to death, and now I am in the power of your friends, you ought to do the same by me.
Page 150 - It consisted of fifteen or sixteen houses, smaller than those at Nootka, and built in the same style, but compactly placed. By Maquina's directions, the attack was deferred until the first appearance of dawn, as he said that was the time when men slept the soundest. At length all being ready for the attack, we landed with the greatest silence, and going around so as to come upon the foe in the rear, clambered up the hill, and while the natives, as is their custom, entered the several huts, creeping...
Page 197 - ... the transport he felt, when Captain Hill came into the cabin and told him that he was at liberty to go, that he threw off his mantle, which consisted of four of the very best skins, and gave it to him, as a mark of his gratitude; in return for which, the captain presented him with a new great-coat and hat, with which he appeared much delighted. The captain then desired me to inform him that he should return to that part of the coast in November, and that he wished him to keep what skins he should...
Page 32 - ... the most horrid sight presented itself that ever my eyes witnessed. The heads of our unfortunate captain and his crew, to the number of twenty-five, were all arranged in a line ; and Maquina, ordering one of his people to bring a head, asked me whose it was. I answered, The captain's. In like manner the others were shown me, and I told him the names, excepting a few that were so horribly mangled that I was not able to recognize them.
Page 178 - IT was now past midsummer, and the hopes we had indulged of our release became daily more faint, for though we had heard of no less than seven vessels on the coast, yet none appeared inclined to venture to Nootka. The destruction of the Boston, the largest, strongest, and best equipped ship, with...
Page 172 - ... proportion. The king is, however, obliged to support his dignity by making frequent entertainments ; and whenever he receives a large supply of provision, he must invite all the men of his tribe to his house, to eat it up ; otherwise, as Maquina told me, he would not be considered as conducting like a Tyee, and would be no more thought of than a common man. With regard to their religion, they believe in the existence of a Supreme Being, whom they call Quahootze, and who, to use Maquina's expression,...

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