NOOTKA SOUND. 
into various figures, and appearing like carved work. 
Their hair is alfo feparated into fmall parcels, and tied at 
intervals of about two inches to the end with thread ; and 
others tie it together. Thus dreffed, they exhibit a 
favage and incongruous appearance, which is much 
heightened by monftrous decorations, confiding of a va¬ 
riety of carved wooden mafks or vizors, applied to the 
face, the head, or forehead. Thefe grotefque appearances 
refemble either human faces, the heads of birds, or thofe 
of land and fea animals. It is not certain what views 
they have in affuming thefe extravagant mafquerade or¬ 
naments ; poffibly they may adopt them on particular re¬ 
ligious occafions, or for diverlion ; or for intimidating 
their enemies, or as decoys to animals in the chafe. The 
only drefs among the people of Nootka, peculiarly adapted 
to war, is a thick leathern mantle doubled, which feems 
to be the (kin of an elk, or buffalo tamed. This forms a 
kind of coat of mail, or complete defenfive armour. They 
alfo wear a kind of leathern cloak, covered with rows of 
dried hoofs of deer, difpofed horizontally, appended by 
leathern thongs and covered with quills, which, when they 
move, makes a kind of rattling noife, alrnoft equal to 
that of many fmall bells. Thefe people, thus formida¬ 
ble in their appearance when they affurne their military 
garb, have not the lead appearance of ferocity in their 
countenances when diverted of it; but feem to be, in a 
confiderable degree, cleftitute of that animation and vi¬ 
vacity which would render them agreeable as focial 
beings. Such is their difpofition, that, even in the greateft 
paroxylms of their rage, they feem unable to exprefs it 
fufficiently, either with warmth of language or fignifi- 
cancy of gefture. The above account, and the annexed 
Plate, are copied from Cook’s Voyages. 
Although there is too much re'afon, from their bring¬ 
ing to fale human (kulls and bones, to infer that they 
treat their enemies with a degree of brutal cruelty, this 
circumftance feems to be only an indication of general 
agreement of character with that of almoft every tribe 
of uncivilized men, and furnifhes no jurt occafion for re¬ 
proaching them with peculiar inhumanity. They appear 
to be a docile, virtuous, good-natured, people; but, not- 
withftanding the phlegm of their temper, quick to refent 
injury, and as prompt to forgive it. Their other paf- 
iions, and particularly their curiofity, feem to lie dormant. 
Neverthelefs they are not wholly unfufceptible of the 
tender paflions. In proof of this, it is alleged that they 
are fond of mufic, which is moftly of the grave or ferious 
kind. They fing in numbers together; and their fongs 
are generally (low and folemn, with a cadence or melody 
powerfully foothing. Befides their full concerts, fonnets 
of the fame grave cart are frequently fung by fingle per¬ 
formers, who keep time by rtriking the hand againft the 
thigh. The mufic, however, is fometimes varied from its 
predominant folemnity of air; and ftanzas are fung in a 
more gay and lively (train, and even with a degree of hu¬ 
mour. The only inftruments of mufic which were ob- 
ferved among them were a rattle, and a fmall whiftle, 
about an inch long, incapable of any variation, from hav¬ 
ing but one hole. The rattles are, for the moft part, 
made in the (hape of a bird, with a few pebbles in the 
belly ; and the tail is the handle. 
In traffic, fome of them betray a knavifti difpofition, 
and carry off goods without making any return. But in 
general, fays Capt. Cook, we had abundant reafon to 
commend the fairnefs of their conduCl. Such, however, 
was their eagernefs to poffefs iron and brafs, and Indeed 
any kind of metal, that few of them could refill the 
temptation to (leal it, whenever an opportunity offered ; 
nor did they pilfer any but that which they could convert 
to ufeful purports, and had a real value in their eftimation. 
Amongft themfelves, dealing is a very common praClice, 
and is the occafion of many of their quarrels. 
In the two towns, or villages, which feemed to be the 
only inhabited parts of the Sound, the number of occu¬ 
piers amounted to about zooo. The houfes are difpofed 
333 
in ranges, rifing one above the other; the larged being 
in front and the others of fmaller fize. Thefe ranges are 
interrupted or disjoined at irregular diftances, and they 
are feparated by wider intervals. They are built of very 
long and broad planks, reftirig upon the edges of each 
other, and fattened by withes of pine-bark. Their height 
at the fides and ends is feven or eight feet; but the back 
part is a little higher, fo that the planks flant forward, and 
thus are kept loofe, that they may be put clofe to exclude 
rain, or feparated for letting in light and difcharging the 
fmoke. Upon the whole, however, they are wretched hovels, 
conftruCted with little or no ingenuity. Their furniture 
confirts chiefly of a great number of cherts or boxes, piled 
upon each other; and containing their fpare garments, 
(kins, mafks, and other things which they chiefly value. 
Their other domeftic utenfils are moftly fquare and ob¬ 
long pails or buckets, to hold water and other things ; 
round wooden cups and bowls, and fmall (hallow wooden 
troughs, about two feet long, out of which they eat their 
food ; and baflcets of twigs, bags of matting, &c. Their 
fifhing-implements and other articles are laid, without 
order, in other parts of the houfe: their (leeping-benches 
have nothing but the mats. The naftinefs and ftench of 
their houfes is equal to the confufion. They rather re¬ 
femble hog-fties than human habitations ; every thing 
within and without (linking of fi(h, train-oil, and fmoke. 
Many of their houfes, notvvithftanding their diforder and 
filth, are decorated with images, formed of trunks of 
large trees, four or five feet high, fet up fingly or by pairs 
at the upper end of the apartment, with the front carved 
into a human face, the arms and hands cut out upon the 
fides, and varioufly painted ; fo that they are truly mon¬ 
ftrous figures. A mat is generally hung before each of 
thefe images, which the natives are not wfiliing to re¬ 
move ; and, when they unveiled thern, they (poke of them 
in a very myfterious manner. It is their cuitom to make 
offerings to thefe images, and they expeCl others to do the 
fame. Hence it may be inferred, that they are reprefen- 
tatives of their gods, or fymbols of fome religious or fu- 
perftitious objeCt; but Cook fays, they were held in flight 
eftimation, as for a fmall quantity of iron or brafs he 
could have purchafed all the gods (if the images were 
fuch) in the place. 
The chief employment of the men feems to be that of 
fiftaing, and killing land or fea animals for the fuftenance 
of their families ; and the women occupy themfelves in 
manufacturing their woollen or flaxen garments, or in 
preparing the fardines for drying. The women alfo go 
in fmall canoes to gather mufcles and other (hell-filli. 
The young men feemed to be the moft indolent in this 
community ; for they lay about, balking themfelves in 
the fun, or wallowing in the (and, like hogs, wdthout any 
covering. But this difregard of decency was confined to 
the men: the women were always clothed, and behaved 
with the utmoft propriety. Thefe people fpend much 
time'in their canoes in the fummer-feafon ; eating and 
deeping in them, efpecialiy in thofe of the largelt fort, 
which indeed are much more comfortable habitations 
than their houfes. Their chief food confifts of fifli, muf¬ 
cles, fmaller fliell-fifh, and fea-animals. Their moft com¬ 
mon vegetables are two forts of liliaceous root, which 
have a mild fweetifli talle, are mucilaginous, and are eaten 
raw. Another root rertmbles our liquorice, and another 
a fern-root. They have alfo other roots, which they eat 
raw. It is their common praClice to road or broil their 
food, for they feem to be unacquainted with our method 
of boiling. They are as filthy in their mode of eating as 
they are in their perfons and their houfes. The troughs 
and platters in which they put their food do not feem to 
have been wa(hed fince they were firft made. Every thing 
folid is torn to pieces with their teeth; and, having no 
idea of cleanlinefs, they eat the roots which they dig from 
the ground, without (baking off the dirt that adheres to 
them. 
Their weapons are bows and arrows, flings, fpears, 
(hort 
