r o u n d t h e w o r l d .
The houfes were conftructed after the manner at Nootka, but appeared * Wrather
lefs filthy, and the inhabitants were undoubtedly of the fame ------ '
nation,- differing little in their drefs, or general deportment. Several
families lived under the fame roof; but their fleeping apartments were
feparated, and more decency feemed to be obferved m their domeftic
economy, than I recolleaed to be the praffice at Nootka. The women,
who in proportion appeared numerous, were varioufly employed;
fome in their different houfhold affairs, others in the manufacture of their
garments from bark and other materials ; though no one was engaged in
making their woollen apparel, which I much regretted. The fabrication
o f mats for a variety of purpofes, and a kind of bafket, wrought fo cu-
rioufly clofe, as to contain water like an earthen veffel without the leaft
leakage or drip, comprehended the general employment of the women,
who were not lefs induftrious than ingenious. .
As inquiries into the laudable ingenuity of others are not to be fatis-
fied in the civilized world without fome expence, fo inveftigations of the
like nature amongft the uncultivated regions were not to be had m this
fociety without due acknowledgments, which were folicited by thefe e-
male artizans in every houfe we entered; and fo abundant were their
demands, that although I confidered myfelf amply provided for the oc-
cafion with beads, hawk’s bells, and other trinkets, my box, as well as
my pockets, and thofe o f the gentlemen who were of the party, were
foon nearly emptied. A t the conclufion of this vifit we were entertained
at “the houfe of an elderly chief, to whom Che/lakees, and every
other perfon paid muchrefpea, with a fong by no means unmelodious,
though the performance of it was rendered exceffively favage, by the
uncouth geftures, and rude aftions accompanying it, fimilar to the re-
prefentations I had before feen at Nootka. The fong being fimlhed, we
were each prefented with a ftrip of fea-otter Ikin; the diftnbution of
which occupied fome time. After this ceremony a fong from the ladies
was expefted; and during this interval, I obferved in the hands of the
numerous tribe that now furrounded us, many fpears pointed with iron,
clubs large knives, and other weapons with which they were not fur-
nilhed on our firft approach to the village. I was not altogether fatis-
Y y 2 keu