Si6 AVOYAGETO 



>778. tiglit round his body over his gut frock, and brings the ends 

 of the thongs, or purfe-ftring, over the flioulder to keep it 

 in its place. The fleeves of his frock are tied tight round his 

 wrifts ; and it being clofe round his neck, and the hood drawn 

 over hlb head, where it is confined by his cap, water can 

 fcarcely penetrate either to his body, or into the canoe. If 

 any fliould, however, infinuatc itfelf, the boatman carries 

 a piece of fpunge with which he dries it up. He ufes the 

 double-bladed paddle, which is held with both hands in the 

 middle, flriking the water with a quick regular motion, firfl: 

 on one fide, and then on the other. By this means, the 

 canoe is impelled at a great rate, and in a direction as 

 flraight as a line can be drawn. In failing from Egooch- 

 fliak to Samganoodha, two or three canoes kept way witli 

 the fliip, though flie was going at the rate of fcven miles an 

 hour. 



Their fifliing and hunting implements lie ready upon the 

 canoes, under ftraps fixed for the purpofe. They are all 

 made, in great perfecftion, of wood and bone ; and differ 

 very little from thofc ufed by the Grecnlanders, as they are 

 defcribcd by Crantz. The only difference is in the point of 

 the miffile dart ; which, in fome we faw here, is not above 

 an inch long ; whereas Crantz fays, that thofe of the Green- 

 landers are a foot and a half in length. Indeed, thefe darts, 

 as well as fome others of their inftruments, are fo curious, 

 that they deferve a particular defcription ; but as many 

 of tlicm were brought away on board the lliips, this can be 

 done, at any time, if thought neccffary. Thefe people are 

 very expert in ftriking fifii, both in the fea, and in rivers: 

 They alfo make ufe of hooks and lines, nets and wears. 

 The hooks are compofcd of bone, and the lines of finews. 



The 



