TS 8 
A VOYAGE TO 
1777. 
February. 
which, when they keep time, the boat is pufhed along 
pretty fwiftly. Their fail, which is feldom nfed, is made 
of a mat of a triangular ill ape, having the broadeft 
part above. 
The only method of dreffing their fiih, is by roafting, 
or rather baking; for they are intirely ignorant of the art 
of boiling. In the fame manner they drefs the root, and 
part of the ftalk, of the large fern-tree, in a great hole dug 
for that purpofe, which ferves as an oven. After which 
they fplit it, and find, within, a fine gelatinous fubftance, 
like boiled fago powder, but firmer. They alfo ufe another 
fmaller fern root, which feems to be their fubftitute for 
bread, as it is dried and carried about with them, together 
with dried fiih in great quantities, when they remove their 
families, or go far from home. This they beat with a ftick 
till it becomes pretty foft, when they chew it fufficiently, 
and fpit out the hard fibrous part, the other having a 
fweetifh mealy tafte not at all difagreeable. 
When they dare not venture to fea, or perhaps from 
choice, they fupply the place of other fifh with mufcles 
and fea-ears ; great quantities of the fliells of which lie in 
heaps near their houfes.' And they fometimes, though 
rarely, find means to kill rails, penguins, and fhags, which 
help to vary their diet. They alfo breed confiderable num¬ 
bers of the dogs, mentioned before, for food; but thefe 
cannot be confidered as a principal article of diet. From 
whence we may conclude, that, as there is not the leaf! 
fign of cultivation of land, they depend principally for their 
fubfiftence on the fea, which, indeed, is very bountiful in 
its fupply. 
Their method of feeding correfponds with the naftinefs 
of their perfons, which often fmell difagreeably from the 
quantity 
