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From the book "Early Settlers of Comptche, Along its Many Roads" written by Elsa E. Thompson in 1973.

Portugee Frank's Friend

 On a little flat about two hundred feet east of the Curtis home and
on their property was the last home of Nigger Nat, Portugee Frank's
old friend. Nathaniel Smith was a soft spoken southern Negro who had
gone to sea on a whaling ship and had reached California during the 
Gold Rush, according to another informant. He was with Frank when
they went to Cuffey's Cove in the winter of 1852, and Nat always said
that they were the first two white men on the coast, and at that, he
was first, since he was ahead of Frank on the trail.

 When Frank left Cuffey's Cove in the 1860s for Orrs Springs, Nat
went with him. Then he went to work for the Mendocino Lumber Co.
and lived in a hut in an opening about eight miles up on Big River,
known yet as Nigger Nat's Opening. This is about where the great fire
of 1931 got its start.
 
 Later on he settled near the Curtis home and spent the rest of his
life there. He was very well known and liked in Mendocino. He was
always helping anyone in need with a load of wood, or waiting outside
the house when someone was sick. One report was of finding him
asleep on the back doorstep of a sick friend in case he called out.

 He took the young people, or anyone who wanted to go, on fishing
trips on the river, and was included in the crabbing parties that used to
take place on the beach. Crabs were caught from the old low bridge,
and then all would go down on the beach for the feed.

 Another custom of Nat's was that each year he would take his old
buckboard (wired together, and drawn by an old scrawny horse) and
drive all the way to Potter Valley, beyond Ukiah, to buy a load of
watermelons. When he got back he sold them on the coast for 20 cents
each. The price was always the same year after year, and the young
people looked forward to this yearly treat.

 He died in March of 1908, but his burial place, unfortunately, is
unknown.