THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
5^3 
They produce fire both by collifton and by attrition; the 
former by ftriking two Hones one againft another; on one 
of which a good deal of brimftone is firft rubbed. The latter 
method is with two pieces of wood; one of which is a Hick 
of about eighteen inches in length, and the other a flat 
piece. The pointed end of the Hick they prefs upon the 
other, whirling it nimbly round as a drill; thus produ¬ 
cing fire in a few minutes. This method is common in 
many parts of the world. It is pracftifed by the Kamt- 
fchadales, by tliefe people, by the Greenlanders, by the 
Brazilians, by the Otaheiteans, by the New Hollanders; 
and probably by many other nations. Yet fome learned and 
ingenious men have founded an argument on this cuftom 
to prove, that this and that nation are of the fame extrac¬ 
tion. But accidental agreements, in a few particular in- 
flances, will not authorife fuch a conclufion; nor will a 
difagreement, either in manners or cuftoms, between two 
different nations, of courfe, prove that they are of different 
extraction. I could fupport this opinion by many inftances 
befides the one juft mentioned. 
No fuch thing as an offenfive or even defenfive weapon 
was feen amongft the natives of Oonalaflika. We cannot 
fuppofe that the Ruffians found them in fuch a defence- 
lefs ftate; it is more probable that, for their own fecurity, 
they have difarmed them. Political reafons too may have 
induced the Ruffians not to allow thefe iflanders to have 
any large canoes; for it is difficult to believe they had none 
fuch originally, as we found them amongft all their neigh¬ 
bours. However, we faw none here but one or two be¬ 
longing to the Ruffians. The canoes made ufe of by the 
natives are the fmalleft we had any where feen upon the 
American coaft; though built after the fame manner, with 
Yon. II. 3 U fome 
1778. 
October. 
