a 
OF THE POLAR SEA. 147 
main bar, which is occupied by the feet; the 
netting is there close and strong, and the foot is 
attached to the main bar by straps passing round 
the heel, but only fixing the toes, so that the hee] 
rises after each step, and the tail of the shoe is 
dragged on the snow. Between the main bar 
and another in front of it, a small space is left, 
permitting the toes to descend a little in the act 
of raising the heel to make the step forward, 
which prevents their extremities from chafing. 
The length of a show-shoe is from four to six 
feet, and the breadth one foot and a half, or one 
foot and three quarters, being adapted to the size 
of the wearer. The motion of walking im them 
is perfectly natural, for one shoe is level with the 
snow, when the edge of the other is passing over 
it. It is not easy to use them among bushes, 
without frequent overthrows, nor to rise after- 
wards without help. Each shoe weighs about 
two pounds when unclogged with snow. The 
northern Indian snow shoes differ a little from 
those of the southern Indians, having a greater 
curvature on the outside of each shoe; one ad- 
vantage of which is, that when the foot rises the 
over-balanced side descends and throws off the 
snow. All the superiority of European art has 
been unable to improve the native contrivance of 
this useful machine. 
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