234 cook's voyage to feb. 



them throw away things which we eat, with evident 

 disgust, after only smelling to them. 



They show as much ingenuity, both in invention 

 and execution, as any uncivilized nations under simi- 

 lar circumstances. For, without the use of any metal 

 tools, they make every thing by which they procure 

 their subsistence, clothing, and warlike weapons, 

 with a degree of neatness, strength, and convenience, 

 for accomplishing their several purposes. Their 

 chief mechanical tool is formed exactly after the 

 manner of our adzes ; and is made, as are also the 

 chissel and goudge, of the green serpent-stone or 

 jasper already, mentioned ; though sometimes they 

 are composed of a black, smooth, and very solid stone. 

 But their master-piece seems to be carving, which is 

 found upon the most trifling things ; and, in par- 

 ticular, the heads of their canoes are sometimes 

 ornamented with it in such a manner, as not only 

 shows much design, but is also an example of their 

 great labour and patience in execution. Their cord- 

 age for fishing-lines is equal, in strength and even- 

 ness, to that made by us ; and their nets not at all 

 inferior. But what must cost them more labour 

 than any other article, is the making the tools we 

 have mentioned ; for the stone is exceedingly hard, 

 and the only method of fashioning it, we can guess 

 at, is by rubbing one stone upon another, which can t 

 have but a slow effect. Their substitute for a knife 

 is a shell, a bit of flint, or jasper. And, as an auger, 

 to bore holes, they fix a shark's tooth in the end of a 

 small piece of wood. It is true, they have a small 

 saw made of some jagged fishes' teeth, fixed on the 

 convex edge of a piece of wood nicely carved. But 

 this, they say, is only used to cut up the bodies of 

 their enemies whom they kill in battle. 



No people can have a quicker sense of an injury 

 done to them, and none are more ready to resent it. 

 But, at the same time, they will take an opportunity 



