OF LA PEROUSE. 



53 



-fifli, which they put on the coals wiih the 

 nteft precaution: but they took much Icfs 

 'tins with the h)bucr.i, which they threw care- 

 "'isly inro the mi>-idlc of the Hames ; as foon as 

 the}- were drcflld, they diftributed the claws of 

 them to the men and the children, referving for 

 themfclves the body, which tlicy fometimcs ate 

 befcvfc tb.cy returned to the bottom of the fea. 



We were all exceedingly hurt to fee thefe 

 poor creatures condemincd to fo hard a tafis:. 

 Beiidcs, they were expofed to be devoured by 

 tiic fiv.:rhs, or to cxt entangled among the fea- 

 V. ^'ea tliat there qrows at the bottom of the wa- 

 ter. \\ c fevcral times requefled tl^cir hulbands 

 to at Icafi: ihare their trouble: but it was always 

 in vain ; they condantly remained nr/j.y the fire, 

 rt J?'.ii;ng thcn.ielves v> ith the choiccfl bits : they 

 bhe\\iie ate br^i'cd fca-wced and fern-root. 

 Irom tin";e to tim.e they v.cre occupied in 

 brc.-ikirg 'M-anchies into fmall pieces for keep- 

 ing up iLe lire, taking care to chcofe the dried. 

 'I'heir manricr of break inir wood fhev.cd us that 

 ti^cy Iiad a xcry iiard fcull, for tlicirs Icrved them 

 to refl it agairdr ; and v, ith their hands fixed at 

 th.e extremitie: Oi each niece, they bent itflronf^lv 

 till it v.as broken. I'iicir head, being conilantly 

 I'.ncovercd, an;i e\j5:.led to all the inclemency of 

 v.^.c weather in tii:s high latitude, acquires t];ic 

 t'i-cu'ty of reiiiling fiu:h efforts; befidcs, their 

 B 1, hair 



