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Description

Fine view of the Straits of Juan de Fuca, from a French edition of Meares' Account.

During John Meares secoond journey to Nootka & the Pacific Northwest in 1788 in search of furs, he sailed southward along the coast to the entrance of the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Intending to explore the Straits, he sent his First Officer, Mr. Duffin in a longboat with a crew, to explore the region before sailing in with his larger vessels. However, no sooner had the longboat entered the Straits than it filled up with canoes manned by heavily armed natives with spears & bows & arrows, who attempted to board the boat & assault the crew.

Fortunately the crew was armed, shots were fired, a native was killed & the rest jumped overboard while others paddled their canoes back to shore. This fine View of the scene at Juan De Fuca with the longboat and the native canoes was sketched by John Meares first Officer & engraved in London after John Meares returned to England in 1789 at the end of his voyages.