1777- THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 231 



Jaces of shark's teeth, or bunches of long beads, 

 which seem to be made of the leg-bones of small 

 birds, or a particular shell. A few also have small 

 triangular aprons adorned with the feathers of parrots, 

 or bits of pearl shells, furnished with a double or 

 treble set of cords to fasten them about the waist. I 

 have sometimes seen caps or bonnets made of the 

 feathers of birds, which may be reckoned as orna- 

 ments; for it is not their custom to wear any covering 

 on their heads. 



They live in the small coves formerly described, in 

 companies of forty or fifty, or more; and sometimes 

 in single families, building their huts contiguous to 

 each other; which, in general, are miserable lodging- 

 places. The best I ever saw was about thirty feet 

 long, fifteen broad, and six high, built exactly in the 

 manner of one of our country barns. The inside 

 was both strong and regularly made of supporters at 

 the sides, alternately large and small, well fastened 

 by means of withes, and painted red and black. The 

 ridge pole was strong; and the large bull-rushes, 

 which composed the inner part of the thatching, 

 were laid with great exactness parallel to each other. 

 At one end was a small square hole, which served 

 as a door to creep in at; and near it another 

 much smaller, seemingly for letting out the smoke, 

 as no other vent for it could be seen. This, how- 

 ever, ought to be considered as one of the best, and 

 the residence of some principal person; for the 

 greatest part of them are not half the above size, and 

 seldom exceed four feet in height; being, besides, 

 indifferently built, though proof against wind and 

 rain. 



No other furniture is to be seen in them, than a 

 few small baskets or bags, in which they put their 

 fishing-hooks, and other trifles ; and they sit down in 

 the middle round a small fire, where they also proba- 

 bly sleep, without any other covering than what they 

 wear in the day, or perhaps without that ; as such 



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