[Footnote 18:  We formerly hazarded some observations, on this subject, which may properly claim regard, if the concurrent opinion of Cook be any commendation.  It is rare with him to venture on theoretic conjectures; but his truly excellent remarks, so indicative of candid and unbiassed enquiry, may justly serve as the basis of very extensive reasoning.  His professional career, in short, may be considered as a course of experimental investigations, from which there results a system of philosophy of no ordinary interest or importance.  Can one help regretting, that he did not live, like Newton, to deduce the legitimate consequences of his own discoveries?  But, alas! how rapidly are we now approaching to the last suggestions of his sagacious mind!—­E.]

No such thing as an offensive or even defensive weapon was seen amongst the natives of Oonalashka.  We cannot suppose that the Russians found them in such a defenceless state; it is more probable that, for their own security, they have disarmed them.  Political reasons too may have induced the Russians not to allow these islanders to have any large canoes; for it is difficult to believe they had none such originally, as we found them amongst all their neighbours.  However, we saw none here but one or two belonging to the Russians.  The canoes made use of by the natives are the smallest we had any where seen upon the American coast, though built after the same manner, with some little difference in the construction.  The stern of these terminates a little abruptly; the head is forked, the upper point of the fork projecting without the under one, which is even with the surface of the water.  Why they should thus construct them is difficult to conceive; for the fork is apt to catch hold of every thing that comes in the way; to prevent which, they fix a piece of small stick from point to point.  In other respects, their canoes are built after the manner of those used by the Greenlanders and Esquimaux; the framing being of slender laths, and the covering of seal-skins.  They are about twelve feet long, a foot and a half broad in the middle, and twelve or fourteen inches deep.  Upon occasion, they can carry two persons; one of whom is stretched at full length in the canoe, and the other sits in the seat, or round hole, which is nearly in the middle.  Round this hole is a rim or hoop of wood, about which is sewed gut-skin, that can be drawn together, or opened like a purse, with leathern thongs fitted to the outer edge.  The man seats himself in this place, draws the skin tight round his body over his gut-frock, and brings the ends of the thongs or purse-string, over the shoulder to keep it in its place.  The sleeves of his frock are tied tight round his wrists, and it being close round his neck, and the hood drawn over his head, where it is confined by his cap, water can scarcely penetrate either to his body, or into the canoe.  If any should, however, insinuate itself, the boatman carries a piece of spunge, with which