174 AVOYAGETO 



1778- work on their little bags, may be put in competition with 



^— -V ' the moft delicate manufactures found in any part of the 



known world. In fliort, confidering the otherwile uncivi- 

 lized or rude ilate in which thefe people are, their Northern 

 fituation, amidfl a country perpetually covered with fnow, 

 and the wretched materials they have to work with, it ap- 

 pears, that their invention and dexterity, in all manual 

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



The food which we faw them eat, was dried fifli, and the 

 flcfli of fome animal, either broiled or roafled. Some of the 

 latter that was bought, feemed to be bear's flefli, but widi a 

 filliy tafte. They alfo eat the larger fort of fern-root, men- 

 tioned at Nootka, either baked, or drefTed in fome other way; 

 and fome of our people faw them eat freely of a fubftance 

 which they fuppofed to be the inner part of the pine bark. 

 Their drink is mod probably water; for in their boats they 

 brought fnow in the wooden vcfTels, which they fwallowed 

 by mouthfuls. Perhaps it could be carried withlefs trouble, 

 in thefe open veffels, than water itfclf. Their method of 

 eating feems decent and cleanly; for they always took care 

 to feparate any dirt that niight adhere to their victuals. 

 And though they fonictimes did eat the raw fat of fome fea 

 animal, they cut it carefully into mouthfuls, with their 

 fmall knives. The fame miglu be faid of their perfons, 

 v/hich, to appearance, were always clean and decent, with- 

 out greafc or dirt ; and the wooden vclFels, in which their 

 vi<5tuals arc probably put, were kept in excellent order ; 

 as well as their boats, which were neat, and free from 

 lumber. 



Their language feems dillicult to be underflood at firft ; 

 not from any indiftinctnefs or confufion in their words and 

 founds, but from the various fignifications they have. For 



they 



