PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
401 
raios were thought to be, generally, above the standard of English- CHAP, 
men. Their complexion is much darker than that of the South-sea 
Islanders, and their features far inferior in beauty. In their persons 
they are extremely dirty, particularly their heads, which are so thatched 
with wiry black hair that it is only by separating the locks with the 
hand that it can be got at for the purposes of cleanliness. Many are 
seen performing such acts of kindness upon their intimate friends ; and, 
as the readiest means of disposing of what they find, consuming it, in 
the manner practised by the Tartars, who, according to Hakluyt — 
“ cleanse one anothers’ heades, and ever as thei take an animal do eate 
her, saeing, thus wille I doe to our enemies 
Their bodies are in general very scantily clothed, and in summer 
many go entirely naked. The women, however, wear a deer skin or 
some other covering about their loins : but skin dresses are not com- 
mon among any of the tribes concerning whom we could procure any 
information. The women are fond of ornaments, and suspend beads 
and buttons about their persons, while to their ears they attach long 
wooden cylinders, variously carved, which serve the double purpose of 
earrings and needle-cases. 
Tattooing is practised in these tribes by both sexes, both to orna- 
ment the person, and to distinguish one clan from the other. It is 
remarkable that the women mark their chins precisely in the same way 
as the Esquimaux. 
The tribes are frequently at war with each other, often in con- 
sequence of trespasses upon their territory and property ; and weak 
tribes are sometimes wholly annihilated or obliged to associate them- 
selves with those of their conquerors ; but such is their warmth of 
passion and desire of revenge that very little humanity is in general 
shown to those who fall into their power. Their weapons consist only 
of bows and arrows : neither the tomahawk nor the spear is ever 
seen in their hands. Their bows are elegantly and ingeniously con- 
structed, and if kept dry will discharge an arrow to a considerable dis- 
tance. They resemble those of the Esquimaux, being strengthened by 
Dec. 
1826. 
* Hakluyt’s Selection of curious and rare Voyages, Supplement. 
3 F 
