418 
HOSPITALITY OF TAOUSK. 
souted him with, and, pointing to various piles of bear- 
skins on whieli tlicy were to pass the night, retired with 
his half-empty bottle to seek his own repose. Our fel- 
lows found the skins any thing but uncomfortable quar- 
ters. They were, unlike those we had previously seen, 
very clean and sweet-smelling; and they slept soundly 
upon and under them until daylight, when tliey were 
aroused by tlic fui’ious barking of apparently hundreds 
of dogs, who they subsequently learned had been alarmed 
by the proximity of a bear or other wild animal. 
Taousk was the largest and most important settlement 
we had yet fallen in with. Its houses were strongly 
built and very comfortable: they had board floorings, 
tables, chairs, and windows, and a population of nearly 
two hundred. I^cef was far from scarce; but, unfor- 
tunately, we did not take the time to get any on board: 
we expected soon to be at another place, called Ayan, 
where it was said to be plentiful. 
Our party had an early breakfast, during the discus- 
sion of wdiich the priest congratulated them upon their 
safe ascent of the river, giving them to understand that 
more tlian one Avhalc-boat had been swamped in a similar 
attempt, and intimating that they had made a narrow 
escape from the sand-bank. After breakfast they walked 
among the scattering houses for some time, traded with 
the natives for some milk and a few bear-skins, and 
finally returned on board with the priest and his native 
assistant. 
They were accompanied by some of the natives in a 
large canoe, in which the whole party returned after 
having been shown around the ship and regaled upon 
