330 
A VOYAGE TO 
1778. we faw only one duffel of bone. And though, originally, 
their tools muft have been of different materials, it is not 
improbable that many of their improvements have been 
made fince they acquired a knowledge of that metal, which 
now is univerfally ufed in their various wooden works. 
The chiffel and the knife, are the only forms, as far as we 
faw, that iron affumes amongft them. The chiffel is a 
long flat piece, fitted into a handle of wood. A flone ferves 
for a mallet, and a piece of fifh-fkin for a polifher. I have 
feen fome of thefe duffels that were eight or ten inches 
long, and three or four inches broad; but, in general, they 
were fmaller. The knives are of various flzes ; fome very 
large; and their blades are crooked, fomewhat like our 
pruning-knife; but the edge is on the back or convex part. 
Moll of them that we faw were about the breadth and 
thicknefs of an iron hoop; and their lingular form marks 
that they are not of European make. Probably, they are 
imitations of their own original inftruments, ufed for the 
fame purpofes. They fharpen thefe iron tools upon a 
coarfe flate whetftone; and likewife keep the whole inftru- 
ment conftantly bright. 
Iron, which they call feekemaile , (which name they alfo 
give to tin, and all white metals) being familiar to thefe 
people, it was very natural for us to fpeculate about the 
mode of its being conveyed to them. Upon our arrival in 
the Sound, they immediately difcovered a knowledge of 
traffic, and an inclination for it; and we were convinced af¬ 
terward, that they had not received this knowledge from a 
curfory interview with any ftrangers; but, from their me¬ 
thod, it feemed to be an eftablifhed pradtice, of which they 
were fond, and in which they were alfo well fkilled. With 
whom they carry on this traffic, may perhaps admit of 
1 fome 
