THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



5^3 



raw hides, or leather being almofl continually deeped in '773- 

 ir. Behind and over the trench, are placed the few ef- 

 fects they are poflefled of; fuch as their clothing, mats, 

 and Ikins. 



Their houfehold furniture confifls of bowls, fpoons, buc- 

 kets, piggins or cans, matted baflcets, and perhaps a Ruf- 

 jGan kettle or por. All thefe utcnfils are very neatly made, 

 and well formed ; and yet we faw no other tools among 

 them but the knife and the hatchet ; that is, a fmall flat piece 

 of iron, made like an adze, by fitting it into a crooked wooden 

 handle. Thefe were the only inftruments we met with 

 there, made of iron. For although the Ruffians live amongfl: 

 them, we found much lefs of this metal in their poflef- 

 fion, than we had met with in the polTeffion of other tribes 

 on the American continent, who had never feen, nor per- 

 haps had any intercourfe with the Ruffians. Probably, a 

 a few beads, a little tobacco and fnufF, purchafe all they 

 have to fpare. There are few, if any of them, that do not 

 both fmoke, and chew tobacco, and take fnuiF; a luxury 

 that bids fair to keep them always poor. 



They did not feem to wifli for more iron, or to want any 

 other inftruments, except fewing needles, their Gwn being 

 made of bone. With thefe they not only few their canoes, 

 and make their clothes, but alfo very curious embroidery. 

 Inftead of thread, they ufe the fibres of finews, which they 

 fplit to the thicknefs which each fort of work requires. All 

 fewing is performed by the women. They are the taylors, 

 ffioemakers, and boat-builders, or boat-coverers; for the men, 

 moft probably, conftrudl the frame of wood over which the 

 fkins are fewed. They make mats and balkets of grafs, that 

 are both beautiful and ftrong. Indeed, there is a neatnefs 



Vol. II. 3 U and 



