THe Great JOURNEY 113

threw down his pack, and seated himself
among its occupants. These were Coast
Indians, of a different race and language from
those he had previously seen. He was
received without surprise, and was conducted
to the largest house in the village.

(5) On the Shore of the Pacific

The village they had reached, which Mac-
kenzie later named Friendly Village, was situ-
ated at the junction of Burnt Bridge Creek
with Bella Coola River. He and his men were
greeted with ceremony and honour in the
house of the chief, Soocomlick, though they
could only communicate with their cordial
host by means of signs. It was a large build-
ing, containing three fires, and the leading
men of the community gathered in it to meet
the strangers. They were regaled with a
plentiful meal of salmon, prepared in a num-
ber of ways, and they retired for the night
with the consciousness that their goal was
almost in sight. ‘“‘I never enjoyed,” writes
Mackenzie, ‘‘a more sound and refreshing
rest, though I had a board for my bed and a