THEPACIFICOCEAN. 3^ 



from the fliafr, and leave it floating upon the water as ^7^^ 

 a buoy, when the animal darts away with the harpoon. 



We can fay nothing as to the manner of their catching or 

 killing land animals, unlefs we may fuppofe that they 

 flioot the fmaller forts with their arrows, and engage bears, 

 or wolves and foxes, with their fpears. They have, in- 

 deed, feveral nets, which are probably applied to that pur- 

 pofe * ; as they frequently throw them over their heads, to 

 fhew their ufe, when they brought them to us for fale. 

 They alfo, fometimes, decoy animals, by covering them- 

 felves with a fkin, and running about upon all fours, 

 which they do very nimbly, as appeared from the fpeci- 

 mens of their fkill, which they exhibited to us, making a 

 kind of noife or neighing at the fame time ; and, on thefc 

 occafions, the mafks, or carved heads, as well as the real 

 dried heads, of the different animals, are put on. 



As to the materials, of which they make their various ar-^ 

 tides, it is to be obferved, that every thing of the rope kind, 

 is formed either from thongs of fliins, and finews of ani- 

 mals ; or from the fame flaxen fubftance of which their 

 mantles are manufacflured. The finews often appeared to 

 be of fuch a length, that it might be prefumed they could 

 be of no other animal than the whale. And the fame 

 may be faid of the bones of which they make their weapons 

 already mentioned ; fuch as their bark-beating inftruments, 

 the points of their fpears, and the barbs of their harpoons. 



Their great dexterity in works of wood, may, in fome 

 meafure, be afcribed to the afliftance they receive from iron 



• One of the methods of catching the fea-otter, when afhore, in Kamtfchatka, is 

 with nets. See Cox's Rujftan Difcovmes, p. 13, 



Vol. IL U u tools. 



