- try to identify this Hancock of Port Townsend
- May 27th [of 1853]. We went on a walking expedition today over to the straits. Here we found the claim of a Mr. Ross, his wife and son. I could see no sense in his location, for although the timber is fine there is no market for it; that is, no mill at hand, and he has no cattle to haul it and no pasture to feed the cattle. The extent of his farm is a productive garden which he has planted on an old Indian camping ground.
- We returned by way of Point Wilson, in order to see a stratum of what Mr. Hastings called “ignite.” We failed to see any bear, of which there were many indications, but we killed a few grouse and Dr. Haden wounded a large eagle, which I was foolish enough to approach. He attacked me fiercely, sinking his bill and claws firmly into my leg, causing intense pain. I was only released after I had cut his head off with my knife.
- At Mr. Hastings’ his wife had prepared a dinner of native products, which our walk of about ten miles had prepared us to enjoy. There was clam soup, a saddle of bear which I had sent up, fresh bread, butter and buttermilk and currant and gooseberry pie.
- This evening I paid my respects to the lords of the country. There were also some distinguished Americans among their number. “Gen. Taylor” showed a letter of recommendation he had received from Moses16, post collector; “John C. Calhoun” sold to us a pretty little canoe for the sum of $5.50 which we proposed to use as a tender to our launch in shallow water. The “Duke of Clarence” has stretched my bearskin for me.