1773. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 313 



small ones fixed in pretty long handles, with the 

 blades bent upward, like some of our shoemakers' 

 instruments. But they have still knives of another 

 sort, which are sometimes near two feet long, shaped 

 almost like a dagger, with a ridge in the middle. 

 These they wear in sheaths of skins, hung by a thong 

 round the neck, under their robe, and they are 

 probably only used as weapons, the other knives being 

 apparently applied to other purposes. Every thing 

 they have, however, is as well and ingeniously made, 

 as if they were furnished with the most complete tool- 

 chest ; and their sewing, platting of sinews, and 

 small work on their little bags, may be put in com- 

 petition with the most delicate manufactures found 

 in any part of the known world. In short, consider- 

 ing the otherwise uncivilised or rude state in which 

 these people are, their northern situation, amidst a 

 country perpetually covered with snow, and the 

 wretched materials they have to work with, it ap- 

 pears that their invention and dexterity in all manual 

 works, is at least equal to that of any other nation. 

 The food which we saw them eat, was dried fish 

 and the flesh of some animal, either broiled or roasted. 

 Some of the latter that was bought, seemed to be 

 bear's flesh, but with a fishy taste. They also eat 

 the larger sort of fern-root, mentioned at Nootka, 

 either baked or dressed in some other way, and 

 some of our people saw them eat freely of a 

 substance which they supposed to be the inner 

 part of the pine bark. Their drink is most pro- 

 bably water, for in their boats they brought snow 

 in the wooden vessels, which they swallowed by 

 mouthfuls. Perhaps it could be carried with less 

 trouble in these open vessels than water itself. Their 

 method of eating seems decent and cleanly, for they 

 always took care to separate any dirt that might ad- 

 here to their victuals. And though they sometimes 

 did eat the raw fat of some sea animal, they cut it 

 carefully into mouthfuls with their small knives. The 



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