The Kadiak Bear and his Home 



pliable, but very staunch, and works its way over 

 the waves more like a snake than a boat. The lines 

 are such that friction is done away with, and driven 

 through the water by good men, it is the most 

 graceful craft afloat. It has a curious split prow, 

 so made for ease in lifting with one hand, and may 

 have one, two, or three hatches, according to Its 

 size. The paddles used are curiously narrow and 

 pointed. 



What still remains unexplained is the native 

 one-sided method of paddling; that is to say, in a 

 two-hatch baldarka, both natives make six or seven 

 short strokes on one side together, and then change 

 to the other side. An absolutely straight course is 

 thus impossible, but the Aleut is a creature of 

 habit, and smiles at all new suggestions. 



In the canoe is plenty of room for provisions 

 and live stock. I speak of the latter because a 

 native will often carry his wife, children, and dog 

 inside a one-hatch baldarka while he paddles. 



Water is kept out of the hatches by the kam- 

 laykas which the natives wear. This is a long 

 jacket made of bears' intestines, very light and 

 water tight, and when the neck and sleeve bands 

 are made fast, and the skirts secured about the 

 hatch with a thong, man and canoe alike are dry as 

 a chip. 



235 



