98 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Serviceable to the Kamtschadales. 



the skin, they make beds, covertures, caps, and 

 gloves, and collars for their sledge-dogs. Those 

 who go upon the ice for the capture of marine 

 animals, make their shoe soles of the same sub- 

 stance, which thus never slip upon the ice. The 

 fat of the bear is held in great estimation, as 

 equally savoury and nourishing; and, when 

 liquified by melting, it supplies the place of oil. 

 The flesh also is esteemed a great delicacy ; and 

 the intestines, when cleansed and properly scrap- 

 ed, are worn by the women to preserve their 

 faces from the effects of the sun-beams, which 

 here, being reflected from the snow, are gene- 

 rally found to blacken the skin ; but by this means 

 the Kamtschadale ladies preserve a fine com- 

 plexion. The Russians of Kamtschatka make of 

 these intestines window-panes, which are as trans- 

 parent as Muscovy-glass. Of the shoulder- 

 blades, are made sickles for cutting grass; and 

 the heads and haunches are hung up as trophies 

 and ornaments, near the huts of the natives. 



The Kamtschadales are also greatly indebted 

 to the bears, for the little progress they have 

 hitherto made in their knowledge of physic and 

 surgery : by observing what herbs the bears have 

 applied to the wounds they have received, and 

 what methods they have pursued when languid, 

 and disordered, these people have learned to dis- 

 tinguish most of those simples which they have 

 recourse to, either as external or internal appli- 

 cations. It is equally true, that they admit the 



