JAPAN. 27^ 



fore part of the head is (haved. The features are tolerably good, 

 their eyes black, forehead flat, complexion yellow ; both fexes 

 wear rings in their ears and on their fingers. Their drefs is of 

 the Japanefe falliion ; fome is made of filk, others of fluff, and 

 others of the fkins of animals. 



Their houfes are built againfl the flope of a hill, conflrudled Houses, 

 of planks, and covered with the bark of trees ; they are fup- 

 ported by the trunks, and have an hole at top to let out the 

 fmoke ; their fire-place is in the middle of the floor ; their 

 doors fo low that they are obliged to creep in. The only fur- 

 niture is matting made by the women ; to thefe add a cup and a 

 plate of varnill:ied ware for each individual in the family. In. 

 fome refpedls the houfes refemble thofe of Nootka Sound, and 

 are in groups of fifteen or twenty, each group about half a 

 league diftant from the other, and each feems to be peopled 

 with a kindred clan. 



The common food of the natives is the lard and oil of whales. Food. 

 flfli, and all forts of vegetables, efpecially the fruit of rofes, which 

 are as large as medlars, and being dried, are confidered as excel- 

 lent winter provilion. Notwithflanding this, they often die of 

 cold or famine. It is cuftomary with them to put their dead 

 into a cafe, and cover them with oyfler-fhells ; thefe are fup- 

 ported by four pofts, placed beneath huts neatly made. 



The natives olMatJumai Hiew very few figns of religion, nor RELIGIo^f, 

 have they any idols. When they drink, if they are near the 

 fire, they pour a few drops into it; they alfo flick in their 

 chambers fome fmall rods with little flags at the end. If a 



N n 2 perfbn 



