THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
159 
quantity of greafe about them, and their clothes never be- 1777. 
ing wafhed. We have feen them eat the vermin, with t Feb |' uar ^, 
which their heads are fufhciently ftocked. 
They alfo ufed to devour, with the greateft eagernefs, 
large quantities of ftinking train oil, and blubber of feals, 
which we were melting at the tent, and had kept near two 
months; and, on board the ihips, they were not fatisfied 
with emptying the lamps, but actually fwallowed the cot¬ 
ton, and fragrant wick, with equal voracity. It is worthy 
of notice, that though the inhabitants of Van Diemen’s 
land appear to have but a fcanty fubliftence, they would 
not even tafte our bread, though they faw us eat it; where¬ 
as thefe people devoured it greedily, when both mouldy 
and rotten. But this muft not be imputed to any defed: in 
their fenfations ; for I have obferved them throw away 
things which we eat, with evident difguft, after only fmell- 
ing to them. 
They fhew as much ingenuity, both in invention and 
execution, as any uncivilized nations under limilar cir- 
cumftances. For, without the ufe of any metal tools* 
they make every thing by which they procure their fub- 
Ihtence, clothing, and warlike weapons, with a degree of 
neatnefs, iirength, and convenience for accomplifbing their 
feveral purpofes. Their chief mechanical tool is formed 
exadly after the manner of our adzes ; and is made, as are 
alfo the chilfel and goudge, of the green ferpent-ftone or 
jafper, already mentioned; though fometimes they are 
compofed of a black, fmooth, and very folid hone. But 
their mafter-piece feems to be carving, which is found 
upon the moft trifling things ; and, in particular, the heads 
of their canoes are fometimes ornamented with it in fuch 
a manner, as not only fhews much delign, but is alfo an 
example 
