FOOD AND HABITS. 435 



when in haste, they eat fish, as well as meat, in a raw state. 



Both seal and porpoises are speared 



by them from their canoes. When struck, the fish usually 

 run into the kelp, with the spear floating on the water, being 

 attached by a short line to a moveable barb : and then the 

 men follow with their canoe, seize the spear and tow by it 

 till the fish is dead. To them, the taking of a seal or a 

 porpoise is a matter of as much consequence as the capture 

 of a whale is to our countrymen. On moonlight nights, 

 birds are caught when roosting, not only by the men but by 

 their dogs, which are sent out to seize them while asleep upon 

 the rocks or beach : and so well are these dogs trained that 

 they bring all they catch safely to their masters, without 

 making any noise, and then return for another mouthful. 

 Birds are also frequently killed with arrows or by stones 

 slung at them with unerring aim. Eggs are largely sought 

 for by the natives ; indeed, I may say that they eat anything 

 and everything that is eatable, without being particular as to 

 its state of freshness, or as to its having been near the fire." * 



According to Byron the dogs of the Chonos Indians assist 

 in killing fish as well as birds. They are, he says, " cur- like 

 looking animals, but very sagacious, and easily trained to 



this business The net is held by two Indians, who 



get into the water ; then the dogs, taking a large compass, 

 dive after the fish, and drive them into the net; but it is 

 only in particular places that the fish are taken in this 

 manner." He adds, that the dogs " enjoy it much, and 

 express their eagerness by barking every time they raise 

 their heads above the water to breathe." t 



" In the winter, when snow lies deep, the Tekeenica 

 people assemble to hunt the guanaco, which then comes 



* Fitzroy, I.e. p. 184. 



f Byron's Loss of the Wager. In Kerr's Voyages and Travels, vol. xvii., 

 pp. 339, 368, 463. 



