VI J I. TO EDMONTON. 



of the weather, man in every stage of so- 

 ciety has been led to invent various sorts of 

 clothing ; and it is wonderful to observe how 

 the most ignorant savages form their rude 

 garments, so as not to impede exertion, or 

 constrain the free use of their limbs. 



We cannot without wonder behold the 

 elegant fabrics which the Otaheiteans prepare 

 from the bark of trees, and on which they 

 imprint various fanciful figures ! Some o* 

 these are equal in fineness and whiteness to 

 some of our most beautiful muslins ; while 

 others of them are of the colour and con- 

 sistence of leather. 



In less genial climates, where men are 

 more occupied in hunting and fishing than 

 in agriculture, they employ for the same 

 purpose the skins of animals. The savages 

 of South America prepare skins by soaking 

 them for a sufficient length of time in water, 

 and afterwards render them supple and pliant 

 by different operations. 



The Greenlandcrs, who, as you know, in- 

 habit 







