-stone or jasper, already mentioned; though sometimes they are
composed of a black, smooth, and very solid stone. But their masterpiece
seems to be carving, which is found upon the most trifling things; and,
in particular, the heads of their canoes are sometimes ornamented with
it in such a manner, as not only shews much design, but is also an
example of their great labour and patience in execution. Their cordage
for fishing-lines is equal, in strength and evenness, to that made by
us; and their nets not at all inferior. But what must cost them more
labour than any other article, is the making the tools we have
mentioned; for the stone is exceedingly hard, and the only method of
fashioning it, we can guess at, is by rubbing one stone upon another,
which can have but a slow effect. Their substitute for a knife is a
shell, a bit of flint, or jasper. And, as an auger to bore holes, they
fix a shark's tooth in the end of a small piece of wood. It is true,
they have a small saw made of some jagged fishes teeth, fixed on the
convex edge of a piece of wood nicely carved. But this, they say, is
only used to cut up the bodies of their enemies whom they kill in
battle.

No people can have a quicker sense of an injury done to them, and none
are more ready to resent it. But, at the same time, they will take an
opportunity of being insolent when they think there is no danger of
punishment; which is so contrary to the spirit of genuine bravery, that,
perhaps, their eagerness to resent injuries is to be looked upon rather
as an effect of a furious disposition than of great courage. They also
appear to be of a suspicious or mistrustful temper (which, however, may
rather be acquired than natural), for strangers never came to our ships
immediately, but lay in their boats at a small distance, either to
observe our motions, or consult whether or no they should risk their
safety with us. To this they join a great degree of dishonesty; for they
steal every thing they can lay their hands on, if there be the least
hope of not being detected; and, in trading, I have little doubt but
they would take advantages, if they thought it could be done with
safety; as they not only refuse to trust a thing in one's hand for
examination, but exult if they think they have tricked you in the
bargain.

Such conduct, however, is, in some measure, to be expected where there
appears to be but little subordination, and consequently few, if any,
laws, to punish