SKETCH OF THE BOOTHIANS. 25 



bars made of the legs of the deer or musk ox, so as to form 

 the bottom of the sledge. This being done, the bottom of the 

 runner is covered with a mixture of mossy earth and water, which 

 soon freezes, to the depth of two inches ; after which comes the 

 final process of plating the surface, that it may run smoothly over 

 the snow. The operator takes some water in his mouth, and, 

 when somewhat mixed with saliva, it is deposited on a bear-skin 

 which is then rubbed over the runner, as by a brush, gradually, 

 till a coating of half an inch thick is produced, when the work 

 is finished ; the ice produced in this manner having an unusual 

 degree of tenacity, and being also more slippery than the ordinary 

 material. 



These carriages travelled much more lightly than our own, 

 which were shod with iron; but as they cease to be of use as soon 

 as the thermometer reaches the freezing point, they are taken to 

 pieces; the fish being eaten, and the skins converted into bags, 

 while the bones are reserved for the dogs. In the preceding 

 journal I have noticed the sledges made of ice. 



In their miserable singing there is nothing which has not often 

 been described ; and this is equally true of their dances, or rather 

 dance, which seems intended to imitate the motions of a bear. 



