172 ACCOUNTOFTHE 



upon fome fea-otter's hair mixed with fulphur. If any 

 Ibrcerer is prefent, it is then his turn to play his tricks in 

 the dark ; if not, the guefts immediately retire to their 

 huts, which are made on that occafion of their canoes 

 and mats. The natives, who have feveral wives, da not 

 withhold them from their guefts ; but where the owner 

 of the hut has himfelf but one wife, he then makes the 

 offer of a female fervant. 



Their hunting feafon is principally from the end of 

 October to the beginning of December, during which 

 time they kill large quantities of young fea-bears for their 

 clothing. They pafs all December in feaftings and di- 

 verlions fimilar to that above mentioned : with this dif- 

 ference, however, that the men dance in w'ooden mafks, 

 reprefenting various fea-animals, and painted red, green, 

 or black, with coarfe coloured earths found upon thefe 

 illands. 



During thefe feftivals they vifit each other from vil- 

 lage to village, and from ifland to ifland. The feafts 

 concluded, mafks and drums are broken to pieces, or de- 

 pofited in caverns among the rocks, and never after- 

 wards made ufe of. In fpring they go out to kill old fea- 

 bears, fea-lions, and whales. During fummer, and even 

 in winter when it is calm, they row out to fea, and catch 

 cod and other fi(h. Their hooks are of bone ; and for 

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