A VOYAGE TO 
5 is 
1778. 
October. 
this metal in their poffeffion, than we had met with in the 
poffeffion of other tribes on the American continent, who 
had never feen, nor perhaps had any intercourfe with the 
Ruffians. Probably, a few beads, a little tobacco, and 
fnuff, pur chafe all they have to fpare. There are few, if 
any of them, that do not both fmoke, and chew tobacco, 
and take fnuff; a luxury that bids fair to keep them al¬ 
ways poor. 
They did not feem to wiffi for more iron, or to want 
any other inftruments, except fewing needles, their own 
being made of bone. With thefe they not only few their 
canoes, and make their clothes, but alfo very curious em¬ 
broidery. Inftead of thread, they ufe the fibres of finews, 
which they fplit to the thicknefs which each fort of work 
requires. All fewing is performed by the women. They 
are the taylors, fhoemakers, and boat-builders, or boat- 
coverers ; for the men, moft probably, conftrudt the frame 
of wood over which the fkins are fewed. They make 
mats and bafkets of grafs, that are both beautiful and 
ftrong. Indeed, there is a neatnefs and perfection in moft 
of their work, that fliews they neither want ingenuity nor 
perfeverance. 
I faw not a fire-place in any one of their houles.. They 
are lighted, as well as heated, by lamps ; which are fimple, 
and yet anfwer the purpofe very well. They are made of 
a flat ftone, hollowed on one fide like a plate, and about the 
fame fi ze, or rather larger. In the hollow part they put 
the oil, mixed with a little dry grafs, which ferves the pur¬ 
pofe of a wick. Both men and women frequently warm 
their bodies over one of thefe lamps, by placing it between 
their legs, under their garments, and fitting thus over it for 
a few minutes. 
They 
