314 



^ AVOYAGETO 



from the beach to the verge of the wood, in which fpace it 

 is fituatcd. 



The houfes are difpofed in three ranges or rows, rifmg 

 j^radually behind each other ; the largefl: being that in 

 front, and the others lefs ; befides a few draggling, or fingle 

 ones, at each end. Thefe ranges are interrupted or disjoin- 

 ed at irregular diflances, by narrow paths, or lanes, that 

 pafs upward ; but thofe which run in the direcftion of the 

 houfes, between the rows, are much broader. Though 

 there be feme appearance of regularity in this difpofition, 

 there is none in the fingle houfes ; for each of the divifions, 

 made by the paths, may be confidered cither as one houfc, 

 or as many ; there being no regular or complete fcpara- 

 tion, either without or within, to dillinguifli them by. They 

 are built of very long and broad planks *, refling upon the 

 edges of each other, faftened or tied by withes of pine 

 bark, here and there ; and have only llcnder ports, or ra- 

 ther poles, at confiderable diftances, on the outfide, to 

 which they alfo are tied ; but within are fome larger poles 

 placed aflant. The height of the fides and ends of thefe 

 habitations, is feven or eight feet ; but the back part is a 

 little higher, by which means the planks, that compofe the 

 roof, llant forward, and are laid on loofe, fo as to be moved 

 about; either to be put clofe, to exclude the rain; or, in fair 

 weather, to be feparatcd, to let in the light, and carry out 

 the fmokc. They arc, however, upon the whole, miferable 

 dwellings, and confiruiftcd with little care or ingenuity, 

 for, though the fide-planks be made to fit pretty clofcly in 



• The habitations of the natives, more to the North upon this coaft, where 

 Behring'spcoplc landed in 1741, fccm to rcfcml'le thofcof Nootka. Mullcr dclcribes 

 them thus: " Cts cabancs ctoient dc bois rcvctu dc planches bien unies, & meme en- 

 *' chantrecs en qiiclques endroits." Muiler, Decauvtrtts, p. 255. 



7 fome 



