"They seem to take so great a latitude in their mode of speaking, that I have sometimes observed four or five different terminations of the same word. This is a circumstance very puzzling at first to a stranger, and marks a great imperfection in their language.
"As to the composition of it, we can say very little; having been scarcely able to distinguish the several parts of speech. It can only be inferred, from their method of speaking, which is very slow and distinct, that it has few prepositions or conjunctions; and, as far as we could discover, is destitute of even a single interjection, to express admiration or surprise. From its having few conjunctions, it may be conceived, that these being thought unnecessary, as being understood, each single word with them will also express a great deal, or comprehend several simple ideas; which seems to be the case. But, for the same reason, the language will be defective in other respects; not having words to distinguish or express differences which really exist, and hence not sufficiently copious. This was observed to be the case in many instances, particularly with respect to the names of animals. The relation or affinity it may bear to other languages, either on this or on the Asiatic continent, I have not been able sufficiently to trace for want of proper specimens to compare it with, except those of the Esquimaux and Indians about Hudson's Bay; to neither of which it bears the least resemblance. On the other hand, from the few Mexican words I have been able to procure, there is the most obvious agreement, in the very frequent terminations of the words in l, tl, or z, throughout the language."[6]
The large vocabulary of the Nootka language, collected by Mr Anderson, shall be reserved for another place,[7] as its insertion here would too much interrupt our narration. At present I only select their numerals, for the satisfaction of such of our readers as love to compare those of different nations in different parts of the world:
| Tsawack, | One. |
| Akkla, | Two. |
| Katsitsa, | Three. |
| Mo, or Moo, | Four. |
| Sochah, | Five. |
| Nofpo, | Six. |
| Atstepoo, | Seven. |
| Atlaquolthl, | Eight. |
| Tsawaquulthl, | Nine. |
| Haeeoo, | Ten. |
Were I to affix a name to the people of Nootka, as a distinct nation, I would call them Wakashians; from the word wakash, which was very frequently in their mouths. It seemed to express applause, approbation, and friendship. For when they appeared to be satisfied, or well pleased with any thing they saw, or any incident that happened, they would, with one voice, call out, wakash! wakash! I shall take my leave of them, with remarking, that, differing so essentially, as they certainly do, in their persons, their customs, and language, from the inhabitants of the islands in the Pacific Ocean, we cannot suppose their respective progenitors to have been united in the same tribe, or to have had any intimate connection, when they emigrated from their original settlements, into the places where we now find their descendants.
My account of the transactions in Nootka Sound would be imperfect, without adding the astronomical and nautical observations made by us, while the ships were in that station.
| Latitude. | |||
| The latitude of the | Sun | 49° 36' 1", 15"' | |
| observatory, by | Stars | South | 49 36 8, 36 |
| North | 49 36 10, 30 | ||
| ________________ | |||
| The mean of these means | 49 36 6, 47 north. |
| Longitude. | |||
| Twenty sets taken on the | 233° 26' 18", 7"' | ||
| 21st and 23d of March. | |||
| The longitude, by | Ninety-three taken | 233 18 6, 6 | |
| lunar observations. | at the observatory | ||
| Twenty-four taken on the | 233 7 16, 7 | ||
| 1st, 2d, and 3d of May. | |||
| _________________ | |||
| The mean of these means | 233 17 14, 0 East. |