SOAl* STONEi 241 
tn these Encampments they always sleep with 
their feet to the fire; and indeed in the Indian 
encampments in general-, during cold weather!, 
they sleep on the ground with their feet to 
the fire; during mild weather, many of them 
sleep on benches of bark in their huts, which 
are raised from two to four feet from the 
ground. 
The utensils in an Indian hut are very few, 
one or two brass or iron kettles procured from 
the traders, or, if they live removed from them, 
pots formed of stone* together with a few 
wooden spoons and dishes made by themselves, 
constitute in general the whole of them. A 
stone of a very soft texture* called the soap 
stone , is very commonly found in the back 
parts of North America, particularly suited 
for Indian workmanship. It receives its name 
from appearing to the touch as soft and smooth 
as a bit of soap; and indeed it may be cut with 
a knife almost equally easily. In Virginia they 
use it powdered for the boxes of their wheels 
instead of grease. Soft, however* as is this 
stone, it will resist fire equally with iron. 
The soap stone is of a dove colour; others 
nearly of the 7 same quality, are found in the 
country* of a black and red colour, which are 
still commonly used by the Indians for the 
bowls of their pipes, 
n 
