{ 99 ) 

 who had been here in our abfence, were 

 not of that tribe with which we had 

 fome commerce before, who feemed to 

 fet no value upon iron, but from fome 

 other quarter ; and muft have had com- 

 munication with the Spaniards, from 

 whom they had learned the value and 

 ufe of that commodity. Thieving from 

 ftrangers is a commendable talent among 

 favages in general, and befpeaks an ad- 

 drefs which they much admire ; though 

 the ftrideft honefty, with regard to the 

 property of each other, is obferved 

 among them. There is no doubt but they 

 ranfacked all our houfes ; but the men 

 had taken care, before they went off in 

 the long-boat, to firip them of their mod 

 valuable furniture ; that is, the bales 

 of cloth ufed for lining, and con- 

 verted them into trowfers and watch- 

 coats. Upon farther fearch, v/e found, 

 thrown afide in the buflies, at the back 

 ©f one of the huts, fome pieces of feal, 

 in a very putrid condition ; which, how- 



H 2 ever, 



