16 a 
A VOYAGE TO 
1777- example of their great labour and patience in execution, 
u— r-~J Their cordage for filhing-lines is equal, in ftrength and 
evennefs-, to that made by us ; and their nets not at all in¬ 
ferior. But what mult coft them more labour than any 
other article, is the making the tools we have mentioned; 
for the ftone is exceedingly hard, and the only method of 
fafhioning it, we can guefs at, is by rubbing one ftone upon 
another, which can have but a flow effect. Their fubftitute 
for a knife is a fhell, a bit of flint, or jafper. And, as an 
auger, to bore holes, they fix a ftiark’s tooth in the end of a 
fmall piece of wood. It is true, they have a fmall faw made 
of fome jagged fifties teeth, fixed on the convex edge of a 
piece of wood nicely carved. But this, they fay, is only 
ufed to cut up the bodies of their enemies whom they kill 
in battle. 
No people can have a quicker fenfe of an injury done to 
them, and none are more ready to refent it. But, at the fame 
time, they will take an opportunity of being infolent when 
they think there is no danger of punifliment; which is fo 
contrary to the fpirit of genuine bravery, that, perhaps, 
their eagernefs to refent injuries is to be looked upon rather 
as an effecft of a furious difpofition than of great courage. 
They alfo appear to be of a fufpicious or miftruftful temper 
(which, however, may rather be acquired than natural), for 
ftrangers never came to our fliips immediately, but lay in 
their boats at a fmall diftance, either to obferve our motions, 
or confult whether or no they ftiould rilk their fafety with 
us. To this they join a great degree of diflionefty; for 
they fteal every thing they can lay their hands on, if there 
be the leaft hope of not being detected ; and, in trading, I 
have little doubt but they would take advantages, if they 
thought it could be done with fafety; as they not only refufe 
to 
