NORTH-WEST CONTINENT OF AMERICA,

in their fhirts, which are longer, and without the finifhing of a fringe on
their breaft. Their peculiar mode of tying the hair is as follows :—that
which grows on the temples, or the fore part of the fkull, is formed into
two queues, hanging down before the ears; that of the {calp or crown
is fafhioned in the fame manner to the back of the neck, and is then tied
with the reft of the hair, at fome diftance from the head. A thin cord
is employed for thefe purpofes, and very neatly worked with hair,
artificially coloured. The women, and, indeed, fome of the men, let
their hair hang loofe on their fhoulders, whether it be long or fhort.

We purchafed a couple of very large moofe {kins from them, which
were very well drefled; indeed we did not fuppofe that there were any
of thofe animals in the country; and it appears from the accounts of
the natives themfelves, that they are very fearce. As for the beaver, the
exiftence of fuch a creature does not feem to be known by them. Our
people bought fhirts of them, and many curious articles, &c. They
prefented us with a moft delicious fifh, which was lefs than an her-
ring, and very beautifully fpotted with black and yellow: its dorfal
fin reached from the head to the tail; in its expanded flate takes a
triangular form, and is variegated with the colours that enliven the
feales: the head is very {mall, and the mouth is armed with fharp-
pointed teeth,

We prevailed on the native, whofe language was moft intelligible, to
accompany us. He informed us that we fhould fleep ten nights more
before we arrived at the fea; that feveral of his relations refided in the
immediate vicinity of this part of the river, and that in three nights we

H fhould