128 Dr King on the Industrial Arts of the Esquimaux. 



soon as the thermometer rises above the freezing point, they 

 are taken to pieces, the fish being eaten, and the skins con- 

 verted into bags, while the bones are reserved for the dogs."* 

 In every instance the sledge is shod with pieces of hard bone 

 which can be replaced when worn out. 



The skin of the walrus, during the coldest part of the win- 

 ter, is often manufactured into runners, for, when hard fro- 

 zen, it resembles an inch board, with ten times the strength. 

 Another ingenious contrivance is, the casing of moss and earth 

 in seal skin, so tbat, by pouring a little water,^a round hard 

 bolster is easily formed. Across this kind of runner, there is 

 the same arrangement of bones and sticks on the upper part, 

 and the surface which passes over the snow is coated with 

 ice, by mixing snow with fresh water. A rough piece of wal- 

 rus hide, shaped like a tray or a flat slab of ice, hollowed like 

 a bowl, for trifling purposes, is frequently used-t 



In a country where the pliant twig holds no place, and 

 where frequently driftwood is so scarce as to leave it desti- 

 tute of that important article even for fuel, it is indeed an 

 interesting inquiry to determine the means by which the Es- 

 quimaux has supplied himself with a bow. When formed of 

 one piece of wood, the bow is of the ordinary make, strength- 

 ened on the back with 100 or more of small plaited or twisted 

 sinews,J which, to use the words of Sir Martin Frobisher, 

 are " not glued to, but fast girded and tied on." The Es- 

 quimaux of Behring Straits bestow much care in giving the 

 bow the proper form, and for this purpose they wrap it in 

 shavings soaked in water, and hold it over a fire for a time. 

 It is then pegged to the earth in the form required. By the 

 assistance of the sinews at the back, the bow preserves its 

 elastic power ; and, by slackening or tightening them, it is 

 rendered weak enough for the child, or strong enough for the 

 most powerful man ;§ and when " fast girded," it causes the 

 implement, when unstrung, to turn the WTong way. They 

 have also the power of altering the length of the bowstring 

 to their pleasure, by twisting the several strings, often of 

 fifteen or twenty plaits, of which it is composed. 



* Ross. t Tarry, p. 206. + Egcde, Parry, Lyon, Franklin, Beechy. 

 § Cartwright. 



