328 
A VOYAGE TO 
1778. at mid depth. They are very light, and their breadth and 
flatnefs enable them to fwim firmly, without an out-rigger, 
which none of them have; a remarkable diftindtion between 
the navigation of all the American nations, and that of the 
Southern parts of the Eaft Indies, and the Iflands in the 
Pacific Ocean. Their paddles are fmall and fight; the 
fhape, in fome meafure, refembling that of a large leaf, 
pointed at the bottom, broadeft in the middle, and gradually 
lofing itlelf in the fhaft, the whole being about five feet 
long. They have acquired great dexterity in managing 
thefe paddles, by conftant ufe ; for fails are no part of their 
art of navigation. 
Their implements for fifhing and hunting, which are 
both ingenioufiy contrived, and well made, are nets, hooks 
and fines, harpoons, gigs, and an inftrument like an oar. 
This laft is about twenty feet long, four or five inches 
broad, and about half an inch thick. Each edge, for about 
two-thirds of its length (the other third being its handle), 
is fet with fharp bone-teeth, about two inches long. Her¬ 
rings and fardines, and fuch other fmall fifh as come in 
flioals, are attacked with this inftrument; which is ftruck 
into the fhoal, and the fifti are caught either upon, or be¬ 
tween the teeth. Their hooks are made of bone and wood, 
and rather in artificially; but the harpoon, with which they 
ftrike the whales and letter fea animals, fhews a great reach 
of contrivance. It is compofed of a piece of bone, cut into 
two barbs, in which is fixed the oval blade of a large 
mufcle fhell, in which is the point of the inftrument. To 
this is fattened about two or three fathoms of rope; and to 
throw this harpoon, they ufe a fhaft of about twelve or fif¬ 
teen feet long, to which the fine or rope is made faft; and 
to one end of which the harpoon is- fixed, fo as to feparate 
from 
