THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 325 



Their manufadures, and mechanic arts, are far more ex- ^^rs- 

 tenfive and ingenious, whether we regard the defign, or the 

 execution, than could have been expedled from the natural 

 difpofition of the people, and the little progrefs that civili- 

 zation has made amongft them in other refpetfls. The flaxen 

 and woollen garments, with which they cover themfelves, 

 muft necefTarily engage their firft care; and are the moft 

 ^material of thofe that can be ranked under the head of ma- 

 !nufa<5lures. The former of thefe are made of the bark of a 

 pine-tree, beat into a hempen ftate. It is not fpun, but, af- 

 ter being properly prepared, is fpread upon a flick, which 

 is fattened acrofs to two others that (land upright. It is dif- 

 pofed in fuch a manner, that the manufacturer, who fits on 

 her hams at this fimple machine, knots it acrofs with fmall 

 plaited threads, at the dillance of half an inch from each 

 other. Though, by this method, it be not fo clofe or firm as 

 cloth that is woven, the bunches between the knots make 

 it fufficiently impervious to the air, by filling the interftices ; 

 and it has the additional advantage of being fofter and more 

 pliable. The woollen garments, though probably manufac- 

 tured in the fame manner, have the ftrongeft refemblancc 

 to woven cloth. But the various figures which are very arti- 

 ficially inferted in them, deftroy the fuppofition of their be- 

 ing wrought in a loom ; it being extremely unii'.ely, that 

 thefe people fliould be fo dexterous as to be able to finifli 

 fuch a complex work, unlefs immediately by their hands. 

 They are of diflferent degrees of fincnefs ; fome refembling 

 our coarfeft rugs or blankets ; and others almott equal to 

 our fineft forts, or even fofter, and certainly warmer. The 

 wool, of which they are made, feems to be taken from dif- 

 ferent animals, as the fox and brown lynx ; the laft of which 

 is by far the fineft fort; and, in its natural ftate, differs 

 4 little 



