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PLATE LVIII.
AN ALEUTIAN.
F R O M Cape Lopatka, the most southern point of Kamtshatka, there
runs a chain of islands towards the north-east, which terminate
near the coast of America : these are called the Aleutan Isles, or, by
the Russians, Aleoutskie. They have each of them a different name,
which it is not necessary to enumerate; the one most known to us,
from the discoveries of Captain Cook, is Oonolashka, which lies
almost close to the American continent. Not much is known of the
manners and customs of the inhabitants of these islands. They are
now almost all tributary to the Russians, of whose exactions and hard
usage they sometimes complain very bitterly. Their external character
and appearance differ very much from the inhabitants of the more
southern islands, the Kurilians, as described in the next Plate; nor
are they so mild and civilized in their manners. These children of
nature live in the most independent state with respect to each other;
they acknowledge no chief, or superior. Their whole attention is
occupied with the present moment; they forget the past, and do not
regard the future : nor, in general, have the different islands much
connexion or intercourse with each other, but for the purpose of
exchange of commodities. They must, however, be considered as
ingenious, as appears from their bows and arrows, their canoes or
baidars, and even their dress, which consists of one piece variously
ornamented. Still they are not so clever as the Kurilians. When the
heat of their short summers will allow of it, they frequently appear,
men, women, and children, entirely naked, having no idea of impropriety
or shame attached to it; and this is much more freqxiently the
case in their cabins, where they do not suffer from the cold.
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