For safety's sake the guns of
the two ships were pointed ready; but the natives did not know the fear
of a gun. It was the end of March when Cook first anchored off what he
thought was the mainland of America. It was not mainland, but an
island, and the harbor was one to become famous as the rendezvous of
Pacific traders--Nootka!
Three armed boats commanded by Mr. King, and one under Cook, at once
proceeded from the ships to explore and sound the inlet. The entrance
had been between two rocky points four miles apart past a chain of
sunken rocks. Except in a northwest corner of the inlet, since known
as Snug Cove, the water was too deep for anchorage; so the two ships
were moored to trees, the masts unrigged, the iron forge set to work on
the shore; and the men began cutting timber for the new masts. And
still the tiny specks dancing over the waves carrying canoe loads of
savages to the English ships, {187} continued to multiply till the
harbor seemed alive with warriors--two thousand at least there must
have been by the first week of April after Cook's arrival.
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