Vue De L’Interieur D’Une Maison De L’Entree de Nootka.

French edition of Webbers ‘The inside of a house in Nootka Sound’.

Cook anchored in Resolution (Ship) Cove (Bligh Island), Hope
Bay (Nootka Sound) and made much needed repairs to the ships. Webber
recorded the dwellings and peoples during the stay. It is possible that
the houses depicted belong to the village of Yuquot, which Cook visited
with Webber on 22 April 1778. 

‘After
having made a general view of their habitations, I sought for an inside,
which might furnish me with sufficient matter to convey a perfect idea
of the mode in which these people live. Such was soon found. While I was
employed, a man approached me with a large knife in his hand, seemingly
displeased, when he observed that my eyes were fixed on two
representations of human figures, which were placed at one end of the
apartment, carved on planks, of a gigantic proportion, and painted after
their custom . However, I took as little notice of him as possible, and
proceeded to prevent which, he soon provided himself with a mat, and
placed it in such a manner as to hinder my having any longer a sight of
them. Being pretty certain that I could have no future opportunity to
finish my drawing, and the object being too interesting to be omitted, I
considered that a little bribery might probably have some effect.
Accordingly, I made an offer of a button from my coat, which, being of
metal, I thought they would be pleased with. This, instantly, produced
the desired effect. For the mat was removed, and I was left at liberty
to proceed as before. Scarcely had I seated myself, and made a
beginning, when he returned and renewed his former practice, continuing
it til l I had parted with every single button and when he saw that he
had completely stripped me, I met with no farther obstruction’.

‘their
houses or dwellings are situated close to the shore. They consist in a
long range of buildings, some of which are one hundred and fifty feet in
length, twenty or thirty broad and seven or eight high from the floor
to the roof, which in them all is flat and covered with loose boards.
Cook Journals III, 1, 306 & 317.

Beddie 1743-42, p.341, Joppien 3.202A, ill.p.445