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VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, disposed of them in this manner as charms, or through fear, it was 
impossible to say ; but by their polished surface, and the manner in 
Sept, which they were suspended, they appeared to have long occupied 
these places. They were certainly not hung there for convenience, as 
the large one in particular must have materially incommoded the ladies 
in their walking. One of our party suggested that this large bell might, 
perhaps, be appropriated to the performance of a ceremony mentioned 
by Muller, in his “Voyages from Asia to America,” &c. p. 28 ., where he 
states that the bond of friendship or enmity depends upon a guest 
rinsing his mouth with the contents of the cup, which formed an indis- 
pensable part of a very singular custom among the Tschutschi, the people 
of Cashemir, and some other countries*. 
Among other things, this party had small bags of resin, which ap- 
peared to be the natural exudation of the pine. F rom their constantly 
chewing it, it did not seem difficult to be had ; and as no trees of this 
nature, that we w'ere acquainted with, grew upon the coast, we were 
anxious to learn whence they had procured it, but we could not make 
our acquaintances understand our wishes. 
An old lady, who was the mother of the two girls with the bells, 
invited me into her tent, where I found her daughters seated amidst a 
variety of pots and pans, containing the most unsavoury messes, highly 
repugnant to both the sight and smell of a European, though not at all 
so to the Esquimaux. These people are in the habit of collecting 
certain fluids for the purposes of tanning ; and that, judging from what 
took place in the tent, in the most open manner, in the presence of all 
the family. 
The old matron was extremely good-natured, lively, and loqua- 
cious ; and took great pleasure in telling us the name of every thing? 
by which she proved more useful than any of our former visiters ; and 
had she but allowed us time to write down one word before she furnished 
another, we should have greatly extended our vocabularies ; but it ap- 
peared to her, no doubt, that we could write as fast as she could dictate, 
and that the greater number of words she supplied, the more thankful 
* M. Paulus Venetus, Witsen, and Trigaut. 
