538 
Fex guished voleano in Oonalaslika began to burn, and the 
‘vaeds flames from the new erupted island ceased; but they 
=r" were renewed soon after. The Fox Islands are of bar- 
ren aspect ; the mountains are conspicuous, being in 
general high and conical, and covered with snow during 
& great portion of the year. Nothing is produced in the 
whole course of the Aleutian chain, except low shrubs 
and bushes. There are no trees ; but, to compensate for 
this defect, recourse is had to drift wood, often of large 
size, floated on shore from America and other countries 
by the tides. The lower vallies produce abundance of 
fine gtass, but the islands are destitute of cattle; and 
there are different indigenous roots, as also potatoes, re- 
cently introduced by foreign settlers, which afford sub- 
sistence to the inhabitants. Berries are collected, and 
laid up for winter provision. 
‘Considerable variety of fish frequent the surrounding 
seas, such as whales, salmon, cod, herring, and holibut, 
of such enormous size as to weigh several hundred 
pounds. These are not common food, but they are cut to 
pieces in the water when caught, from being too heavy 
for the frail canoes of the natives. On their first dis- 
covery, the Russians found innumerable phoce, from 
which they obtained valuable furs ; and for many years 
they continued to kill thousands of sea otters, whose 
skins bore a high price at that time, and still higher 
now, because, from unceasing. pursuit, their numbers 
are wonderfully diminished. Not above two or three 
hundred are at present taken annually, whence their to- 
tal extirpation ina short time is anticipated. But others 
are of even greater importance to the inhabitants, which 
are as ardently sought as the sea otter is by strangers. 
Of one particular seal they eat the flesh ; oil is extracted 
from its fat, which serves to illuminate and warm their 
huts; thesinews are fashioned into thread ; clothes, shoes, 
and household utensils, are made of its skin ; its paunch 
blown up, is used for holding liquors ; and the cesopha- 
gus is fashioned into boots, impenetrable by water. 
Nor is this all, for the thin membrane of 'the entrails is 
converted to a substitute for glass, in admitting light 
to their subterraneous habitations ; and the whiskers 
are com into plumes for ornamental head-dresses. 
The feathered tribes, particularly the aquatic kinds, 
are also numerous here, such as wild geese and wild 
ducks, which are caught in spring, and salted for win- 
ter provender. Some of the rocks afford a retreat to 
and anks during the breeding season, when their 
cae are collected and preserved for the same purpose. 
les, partridges and buntings, are among those found 
always on shore, and there are some species migratory. 
Quadrupeds. W the Russians first discovered the Aleutian 
chain, they obtained the skins of foxes still more easily 
than those of the sea otter, and yearly carried away 
many thousands. These animals were so abundant on 
Fish. 
Birds. 
Foxes and mice are peds 
which the later visitors have observed here ; but set- 
and to impart ay Saenger fla to the 
The same has been the case with poultry fed on dried 
_ the substitution of coarse cotton, or sail-cloth, - 
FOX ISLANDS. 
fish, which the a likewise attempted: the fat 
becomes oily, a soft and spongy. i 
The natives of the Aleutian Islands sre-of middle —~— 
Pox 
the eyes black ; and the hair, whichis strong and wiry, 
to a club on the back of the head. The latter are rather 
handsome, and very complaisant. Both sexes, unlike 
uncivilized nations, are clean in their ; and their 
features, which are strongly marked, have an agreeable 
and benevolent expression. ro : 7 
It is si , that among greater part, if not ; 
all the savage tribes with which wae pr are ac- T#toving. 
quainted, some artificial disfiguration of the 
accounted a oe Aleutian females — 
tattooing, icularly of the upper lip, neck, arms, 
chin : rvs are made nas at and a of 
coal-dust or charcoal rubbed in. By this means, while 
the bluish tinge, exhibit the ce of having ac- 
quired one. Sut from chief neslin ecttlens explain. 
ing to the younger females, that they do not 
esteem these sree ee as oan Sabet to prreee beau- 
ty, tattooin rat t into di 
a is eam, dre the decline. However, they still prac~ 
tise a custom much more tedious and deforming, in the 
perforation of the under lip, into which bones suspe 
ing beads and other tri are inserted, » the 
whole are retained by a kind of button in the inside of 
the mouth. Here, in like manner, the settlers have 
found means to signify to the Aleutian females, that 
their beauty is not embellished by it, and the custom ~ 
is daily decreasing. The ears of the women are per- 
ft all around with holes, to which beads are sus- 
pended ; and the nose of the men is likewise perfo- 
rated to receive a piece of wood or bone the size of a 
small quill, to which strings of glass beads are hung 
on solemn occasions. hep nd seg 
There is little*difference in the external ing of 
either sex, the upper garment being a kind of or, Dress. 
surtout, called parka, made of seal-skin, and formerly of 
that of the sea-otter, or of the skins of birds. Though 
simple in form, it is often neatly and vari orna= 
mented ; and the sn 
leather, ingeniously w or dyed ‘of gaudy colours, 
or long white goats hair, brought hither as an article of 
trade from Siberia. So much care and attention is_be« 
stowed on one of these frocks, that sometimes a whole 
ear is occupied in completing it. The Aleutians have 
ides a kamleika, or rain garment, made of the en« 
trails of the seal, oe we priests 
stance, excludes water ; and although pieces 
are only three inches broad, the whole are so 
united, that the kamleika, though exposed.a whole day to 
rain, is never penetrated. Seoertaan eat 
Aleutian costume is now undergoing some py 
th, "One ot 
the most important parts of dress is a wooden hat fa- 
shioned so as to project over the eyes like an umbrella. 
The material composing it is not extremely scarce, 
but difficult to be formed into with the rude 
and imperfect tools of the isl . After obtaining 
a thin plank, by laborious reduction, its ends are drawn 
together, and secured with tendons, an ion al< 
ways difficult and of uncertain success, Jt»is then 
: 1 
