[ 486 ] 
they left no room to doubt of [the Americans] having 
alfo iron tools. 
The Americans fail upon the fea in canoes made 
of fkins, in the fame manner as the Koriaki and the 
Tchutchi. * Their canoes are about two fathoms 
[14 feet] long, and about two feet high. The fore- 
part of them is fharp ; and tney are flat-bottomed. 
Their inward frame conflfts of flicks, which are 
linked together at both ends, and in the middle are 
prefled outwards, in a rounding [a belly], with crofs- 
flicks [which keep the Tides at a proper diftance]. 
The fkins, which they are covered with, all around, 
feem to be thofe of fea-dogs, dyed of a cherry colour/ 
The place where the Americans fit is round, about 
two arfhines [4 feet 8 inches] from the poop; there 
is fowed upon it the ftomach [of fome great fifli], 
which one may gather and loofen as a purfe, with 
the help of thongs of leather, faffed through fmall 
holes at the edge. An American, fitting in that 
place, ftretches his legs, and gathers round him the 
ftomach [above-mentioned], that water may not fall 
into the canoe. With one oar, fome fathoms long, 
they row on both Tides alternately, with fuch a pro- 
grefiive force, that contrary winds are but a fmall 
hindrance to them ; and with lo much fafety, that 
they arc not afraid to go upon the water, even whilft 
the fea rifes in terrible furges. On the contrary, they 
look with fome terror upon our larger veffels, when 
they are tolled, and advife thole, who fail in them, 
to beware, left their veffels fhould be overfet. This 
* See the two figures, in ift vol. of the Defcription of Ivamt- 
•hatka, over againft page 128. 
happened 
