22 



They had also discovered the method of making 

 salt upon the sea shore, and extracted fossil salt 

 from several mountains that abounded in that pro- 

 duction. These the}' distinguished by different 

 names, calling the first chiadi, and the other /ilco- 

 chiadi, that is, salt of the water of rocks. They 

 procured dyes of all colours for their clothe?, not 

 only from the juice of plants, but also from mineral 

 earths, and had discovered the art of fixing them by 

 means of the polcura, a luminous stone of an as- 

 tringent quality. Instead of soap, the composition 

 of which they had not discovered although ac- 

 quainted with lie, they employed the bark of the 

 quillai which is an excellent substitute. From the 

 seeds of the madi, they obtained an oil wliich is very 

 good to eat and to burn, though I am ignorant whe- 

 ther they ever applied it to the latter purpose. 



Their language contains words discriminative of 

 several kinds of baskets and mats, which they manu- 

 factured from various vegetables. The plant culled 

 gnocchia furnishes them with thread for their ropes 

 and fishing nets, of which tliey have tliree or four 

 kinds. They also make use of baskets and hooks 

 for taking fish, but of what substance the latter arc 

 made I am not able to determine. The inhabitants 

 of the sea coar>t, make use of pirogues of different 

 sizes, and floats made of wood, or of seal skins sewed 

 toçethcr and inflated with air. 



Although hunting was not a principal occupation 

 with these people, yet, for amusement, or with the 

 view of increasing their stock of provision, they 

 were accustomed to take such wild animals as are 



