74 
SARYTSCHEw’s TRAVELS. 
with sinews. The third sort, which is used for killing birds, is 
equal to the first in size, and provided with four barbed bone- 
points. The fourth sort is nine feet long, and also used against 
animals, having at one extremity a bony point, to which is tied 
a thong made of sinews, that is wound twice round the middle of 
the spear. The other extremity is adorned with a hush of eagle’s 
feathers. The fifth sort is four feet four indies long, having a 
bony point, and in the middle an inflated bladder, to keep the 
mortally wounded animal from sinking. The boards with which 
these darts were thrown are about a foot and half long; one end 
is fitted for a handle, and at the other end a bone is fastened in 
like a nail, on which the dart is placed for being thrown. 
Idie darts and boards are dyed with a red stuff, collected from 
the sides of the rocks, and dissolved in water secreted from 
blood, bv which it is made proof against rain or salt-water. 
The blood for this purpose they get from their noses, which 
they prickle with a blade of grass, until they have procured a 
sufficiency. On any excursion to sea, they fix their darts be¬ 
hind and before them, in thongs fastened to the baidar. 
The darts, which the Aleutian always endeavours to get again, 
he throws with his right-hand, while with his left he manages 
the baidar. 
He is so dexterous in the government of his bark, that the 
lightest sloop would certainly not be able to overtake him ; for 
we had the experience of the Aleutians coming up with our vessel 
in their baidars, when it was going at the rate of four leagues 
an hour. 
Means says in his Travels, that the Aleutians could turn 
themselves over in their baidars, and regain their position at 
pleasure; but this is not the case. Whenever they are so un¬ 
fortunate as to be overturned, their death is inevitable, if no 
one be at hand to assist them; on which account they take the 
precaution of going in companies, and put in stones for ballast 
when they have no other load. When they have occasion to 
stop for any purpose, they bind all their baidars dose together; 
and if they wish to land safely in a violent storm, they must 
have assistance from the shore to draw their baidars to land. 
Expert as these islanders are in the management of their 
baidars, they are incapable of swimming; and, from what I ob¬ 
served, are not in the habit of bathing, which may be owing 
to the severity of the climate. 
Respecting the appearance, dress, and labours of the Aleu¬ 
tians, nothing is to be added to what has already been said on 
that subject, in the first chapter of this volume. It now remains 
to mention the different opinions relative to their origin, and 
