484 ANNUAL REGISTER, iSlS*. 



i^hose habitations are pretty nu- 

 merous in this quarter, I had a 

 fair opportunity of forming some 

 judiJ^ment of the progress they 

 have made in the useful arts of 

 civilized life : and I confess it is 

 my opinion, that many in these 

 villages are further advanced in 

 this respect, and enjoy more of 

 the comforts of life, than many of 

 the inhabitants of the remote parts 

 of Great Britain and Ireland. 



In passing by one of their habi- 

 tations, I noticed the Indian man- 

 ner of preparing dear skins for use. 

 After taking off the hair, they 

 sew up the skin like a bag ; and 

 one end being suspended by a 

 support, the lower end is brought 

 close over a vessel, containing a 

 small fire, of green wood, at the bot- 

 tom. The pyroligneus acid ascend- 

 ing with the smoke, so impregnates 

 the skin, that it becomes a durable 

 and elastic leather ; very suitable 

 for their shoes, or moccasons, and 

 other useful ptirposes. This ope- 

 ration was going forward under 

 the piazza of a very good frame- 

 house ; and, from the appearance 

 ©f the inhabitants, I suppose the 

 master was a chief of the first 

 order. Upon his head he had a 

 very grotesque kind of cap, much 



resembling a lofty antique helmef.- 

 His daughter, who appeared to be 

 a girl about 13 years old, had a 

 very pleasing Indian countenance ; 

 and her arms were ornamented 

 with silver bracelets of consider- 

 able breadth, both above and below 

 the elbow. Though her dress was 

 entirely in the Indian fashion, with 

 moccasons, leggins, blanket, &c.f 

 yet being neat, clean, and of finer 

 materials than usual, she had not 

 an inelegant appearance. These 

 people understood a little English ; 

 but, at several of their habitations, 

 where I called in the course of the 

 day, they either could not or would 

 not understand what I said. Some 

 of the younger boys and girls 

 laughed immoderately, on my in- 

 quiring of them the road, but 

 without being able, seemingly, to 

 give me any other answer. As I 

 went along, I met with two clever- 

 looking Indian young men, car- 

 penters, having their tools with 

 them. And under the piazza of 

 a commodious Indian dwelling, 

 I saw, hung up in neat order, the 

 harness and yokes of horses and 

 oxen. There was also a good farm- 

 yard, surrounded with barns and 

 stables, the whole having every 

 appearance of good management. 



NATUKAL 



