CHAPTER XII. 



A Tuski Feast. — A Tuski Smoke. — The Ladies' Privilege. — Tlie draught. — 

 The Tuski Plague. — A sacred ceremony.— The Shaman. — Description 

 of boats, rope, &e. — Embroidery, carving, &c. — Fire-making. 



I HAVE forborne tliroughout my narrative to 

 enter into more than occasional notice of the food of 

 the Tuski, and their modes of preparing it, thinking 

 it better to present at one picture the numerous 

 varieties, which indeed are all provided at feasts 

 given by the wealthy, but in part only at more 

 moderate entertainments. 



I propose now to set before you in detail the 

 history of a Tuski repast of the most sumptuous 

 nature, as myself and companions partook of it, and 

 trust you may find it as much to yom- taste as they 

 do to theirs. It is, I believe, with nearly all people 

 in a primitive condition, the first and paramoimt 

 duty of hospitality to provide the visitor with food 

 immediately on his entrance, and such was the rule 

 in Tuski customs. First was brought in on a huge 

 wooden tray, a number of small hsh, uncooked, but 



