NORTHERN OCEAN. 
hisluggage. This cuftom prevails throughout all 
105 
1771. 
their tribes, and caufes a great, fpirit of emulati- M—~ 
on among their youth, who are upon all occafi- 
ons, from their childhood, trying their ftrength 
and {killin wreftling. This enables them to pro- 
tect their property, and particularly their wives, 
from the hands of thofe powerful ravifhers ; fome 
of whom make almoft a livelihood by takin g what 
they pleafe from the weaker parties, without mak- 
ing them any return. Indeed, it is reprefented 
as an act of great generofity, if they condefcend 
to make an unequal exchange; as, in general, 
 abufe and infult are the only return for the lofs 
which is fuftained. 
The way in which they tear the women and 
other property from one another, though it has 
the appearance of the greateft brutality, can 
{carcely be called fighting. I never knew any of 
them receive the leaft hurt in thefe rencontres ; 
the whole bufinefs confifts in hauling each other 
about by the hair of the head; they are feldom 
known either to ftrike or kick one another. It 
is not uncommon for one of them to cut off his 
hair and to greafe his ears, immediately before the 
conteft begins. This, however, is done private- 
ly ; and it is fometimes truly laughable, to fee one 
of the parties firutting about with an air of great 
importance, and calling out, ‘* Where is he? 
«< Why does he not come out ”” when the other 
will bolt out with a clean fhorned head and greaf- 
ed ears, rufh on his antagonift, feize, him by 
the 
May. 
