Progress was made by
hauling the boats alongshore with ropes braced round trees. By the
first of August a dense fog swept in from the sea. The _Discovery_
crashed on a sunken rock, heeling over till her sails were within three
inches of water. Ballast was thrown overboard, and the next tide-rush
lifted her. By August 19 Vancouver had proved--if any doubt
remained--that no Northeast Passage was to be found by way of the
Straits of Fuca.[1] Then, veering out to sea at midnight through
squalls {276} of rain, he steered to Nootka for the conference with
Spain.
Vancouver came to Nootka on the 28th of August. Nootka was the grand
rallying place of fur traders on the Pacific. It was a triangular
sound extending into the shores of Vancouver Island. On an island at
the mouth of the sound the Spaniards had built their fort. This part
of the bay was known as Friendly Cove. To the north was Snug Cove,
where Cook had anchored; to the south the roadstead of the fur traders.
Mountains rose from the water-line; and on a terrace of hills above the
Spanish fort was the native village of Maquinna, the Indian chief.
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