NORTH WEST COAST OF AMERICA. 



249 



bone or Ivory two or three inches long. At the ears they ^ ^^^ p* 

 moftly wear beads hanging down to the flioulder, and in *- — —- -» 

 the flit in the lip they have a bone or ivory inftrument fitted ' jciy.' 

 with holes in it, from which they hang beads as low as the "^' ''^ ^'* 

 chin. Thefe holes in the lip disfigure them very much, 

 fome of them having it as large as their mouth. But 

 with all this fancied finery they are remarkably filthy in 

 their perfons, and not frequently fhifting their garments, 

 they are generally very loufy; and in times of fcarcity 

 thofe vermin probably ferve them as an article of food ; 

 for I have feen them pick and eat to the number of a 

 dozen or more; and they are not very fmall. Their 

 clothing confifls wholly of the fkins of animals and birds. 

 I muft do them the juftice to fay, that we in general found 

 them very friendly ; and they appear fo remarkably tender 

 and affedionate to their women and children, that you 

 cannot pleafe them more than in making them fmall pre- 

 fents: but carry your attention to their women no farther, 

 for nothing gives them greater difpleafure than taking li- 

 berties with them. Another very prevalent incUnation 

 is that of thieving ; which is by no means peculiar to 

 them, but is equally to be feen in all other Indians, not 

 only from ftrangers, but from one another. I have fre- 

 quently, in the courfe of my trading with them, feen 

 them fteal from one another, and on being detected, they 

 will give up the articles they have floien with a laugh, and 

 immediately appear as unconcerned as it nothing had hap- 

 pened amifs. I am fure that with them thieving v/ith ' 

 dexterity is rather thought a grace than a difgrace; and 

 the complete thief is a clever fellow, but the bungling 

 pilferer is lefs admired. You may generally know the 

 man who comes as a profefled thief, for his face will be 



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