him as happy as a prince.  Soon after, he and his party left the cove, and retired to their proper place of abode, with all the treasure they had received from us.  I believe that they gave away many of the things they, at different times, got from us, to their friends and neighbours, or else parted with them to purchase peace of their more powerful enemies; for we never saw any of our presents after they were once in their possession:  And every time we visited them they were as much in want of hatchets, nails, etc. to all appearance, as if they never had had any among them.

I am satisfied that the people in this sound, who are, upon the whole, pretty numerous, are under no regular form of government, or so united as to form one body politic.  The head of each tribe, or family, seems to be respected; and that respect may, on some occasions, command obedience; but I doubt if any amongst them have either a right or power to enforce it.  The day we were with Tringo-boohee, the people came from all parts to see us, which he endeavoured to prevent.  But though he went so far as to throw stones at some, I observed that very few paid any regard either to his words or actions; and yet this man was spoken of as a chief of some note.  I have, before, made some remarks on the evils attending these people for want of union among themselves; and the more I was acquainted with them, the more I found it to be so.  Notwithstanding they are cannibals, they are naturally of a good disposition, and have not a little humanity.

In the afternoon a party of us went ashore into one of the coves, where were two families of the natives variously employed; some sleeping, some making mats, others roasting fish and fir roots, and one girl, I observed, was heating of stones.  Curious to know what they were for, I remained near her.  As soon as the stones were made hot, she took them out of the fire, and gave them to an old woman, who was sitting in the hut.  She placed them in a heap, laid over them a handful of green celery, and over that a coarse mat, and then squatted herself down, on her heels, on the top of all; thus making a kind of Dutch warming-pan, on which she sat as close as a hare on her seat.  I should hardly have mentioned this operation, if I had thought it had no other view than to warm the old woman’s backside.  I rather suppose it was intended to cure some disorder she might have on her, which the steams arising from the green celery might be a specific for.  I was led to think so by there being hardly any celery in the place, we having gathered it long before; and grass, of which there was great plenty, would have kept the stones from burning the mat full as well, if that had been all that was meant.  Besides, the woman looked to me sickly, and not in a good state of health.