THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 339 



It is raid, that the Kamtfchadales (before their acquaint- '7/9- 

 ance with fire-arms), poifoned their fpears and arrows with 

 the juice of the root of the zgate*\ and that wounds in- 

 flicted by them are equally deftructive to land and marine 

 animals. The Tfchutiki are reported to ufe the fame drug 

 for this purpofe at prefent. 



I fhall conclude this part of the natural hiflory of Kamt- 

 fchatka with an account, from the fame author, of three 

 plants, which furnifh the materials of all their manufac- 

 tures. The fir ft is the triticum radicc perenni fpiculis binis la- 

 nuginofis -j- , which grows in abundance along the coaft. Of 

 the flraw of this grafs they make a flrong fort of matting, 

 which they ufe not only for their floors, but for facks, bed- 

 cloths, curtains, and a variety of other domeflic purpofes. 

 Of the fame materials they alfo make very neat little bags 

 and bafkets, of different forms, and for various ufes. 



The plant called bolotnam, which grows in the marfhes, 

 and refembles cyperoides, is gathered in the autumn, and 

 carded like wool, with a comb made of the bones of the fea- 

 fwallow ; with this, in lieu of linen and woollen clothes, they 

 fwath their new-born infants, and ufe it for a covering next 

 the fkin whilft they are young. It is alfo made into a kind 

 of wadding, and ufed for the purpofe of giving additional 

 warmth to various parts of their clothing. 



There remains Hill a vulgar and well-known plant, 

 which, as it contributes more effectually to their fubfiftence 

 than all the reft put together, muft not be palled over in 

 fllence. This is the nettle ; which, as the country produces 

 neither hemp nor flax, fupplies the materials, of which are 



* Aiumcnoidcs ct ranunculus. f Gmel. Sib. Tom. i. p. iig. Tab. XXV. 



X x 2 made 



