1779. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 313 



their skins, which were of a bad white, and of a dirty 

 yellow toward the belly. The common weasel * is 

 also neglected, and for the same reason. 



On the contrary, the skin of the glutton or wolve- 

 rene t, is here in the highest repute ; insomuch, that a 

 Kamtschadale looks upon himself as most richly 

 attired, when a small quantity of this fur is seen upon 

 him. The women adorn their hair with its pats, 

 which are white, and considered as an extraordinary 

 piece of finery ; and they have a superstitious opinion 

 that the angels are clad with the skins of those 

 animals. It is said, that this creature is easily tamed, 

 and taught a number of pleasant tricks, t 



Having already had occasion to speak as fully as 

 my own knowledge enables me of the bears, and the 

 method of killing them, I shall only here observe, 

 that all those I saw were of a dun brown colour ; 

 that they are generally seen in companies of four or 

 five together; that the time they are most abroad is 

 during the season that the fish (which is their prin- 

 cipal food) are pushing up from the sea into the 

 rivers, and that they are seldom visible in the winter 

 months. § 



Their skins are exceedingly useful. They make 

 both excellent warm mattrasses, and coverings for 

 their beds; comfortable bonnets and gloves, and 

 good collars for the dogs' harness. Their flesh, and 

 particularly the fat, is considered as great delicacies. 



* Mustela nivalis, f Ursus luseus. 



J Krascheninicoff relates, that this small animal frequently 

 destroys deer, and the wild mountain sheep, in the following way : 

 they scatter at the bottom of trees bark and moss, which those 

 animals are fond of: and whilst they are picking it up, drop sud- 

 denly upon them, and fastening behind the head, suck out their 

 eyes. 



§ The Koriacks make use of a very simple method of catching 

 bears. They suspend, between the forks of a tree, a running 

 noose, within which they fasten a bait, which the animal, en- 

 deavouring to pull away, is caught sometimes by the neck, and 

 sometimes by the paw. 



