374 
A VOYAGE TO 
and fmall work on their little bags, may be put in com¬ 
petition with the moll; delicate manufactures found in any 
part of the known world. In ffiort, confidering the other- 
wife uncivilized or rude date in which thefe people are, 
their Northern fituation, amidd a country perpetually co¬ 
vered with fnow, and the wretched materials they have to 
work with, it appears, that their invention and dexterity, 
in all manual works, is at lead; equal to that of any other 
nation. 
The food which we faw them eat, was dried fifli, and the 
flefh of fome animal, either broiled or roalted. Some of the 
latter that was bought, feemed to be bear’s flefh, but with a 
filhy tafle. They alfo eat the larger fort of fern root, men¬ 
tioned at Nootka, either baked, or dreffed in fome other 
way; and fome of our people faw them eat freely of a 
fubftance which they fuppofed to be the inner part of the 
pine bark. Their drink is mod; probably water; for in 
their boats they brought fnow in the wooden veffels, which 
they fwallowed by mouthfuls. Perhaps it could be carried 
with lefs trouble, in thefe open veffels, than water itfelf. 
Their method of eating feems decent and cleanly ; |or they 
always took care to feparate any dirt that might adhere to 
their victuals. And though they fometimes did eat the raw 
fat of fome fea animal, they cut it carefully into mouth¬ 
fuls, with their fmall knives. The fame might be faid of 
their perfons, which, to appearance, were always clean and 
decent, without greafe or dirt; and the wooden veffels, in 
which their victuals are probably put, were kept in excel¬ 
lent order ; as well as their boats, which were neat, and free 
from lumber. 
Their language feems difficult to be underdood at fird; 
not from any indidindtnefs or confudon in their words and 
io founds, 
