WATKU-C-RAFT OF THE HACK -WOODS. 237 



his liand until he can use more powerful levers; ouce 

 well started, he will worm his body between the bark 

 and the trunk, and thus tear it off, throwing it upon the 

 ground, like an immense scroll. The ross, or outside of 

 the bark, is scraped off until it is quite smooth, the 

 scroll is then opened, and the braces inserted in order to 

 give the proper width to the gunnels of the canoe. 

 Strong cords arc then made from the bark of the linn 

 tree or hickory, the open ends of the bark scroll are 

 pressed together and fastened between clamps, the clamps 

 secured by the cord. If the canoe be intended only for 

 a temporary use, the clamps are left on. 



But if to usefulness there can be added the highest 

 beaut}", then the rude damps are displaced by the sew- 

 ing together of the ends of the bark, A preparation 

 is then made of deer's tallow and pounded charcoal, 

 which is used instead»of pitch to fill up the meshes of 

 the seams, and the boat is complete. 



This simple process produces the most beautiful 

 model of a boat that can be imagined ; art can neither 

 embellish the form, or improve upon the simple mechan- 

 ism of the back-woods. Every line in it is graceful, and 

 its sharp bows indeed seem almost designed to cleave the 

 air as well as water, so perfectly does it embrace every 

 scientific requisite for overcoming the obstructions of 

 the element iu which it is destined to move. In these 

 apparently frail machines, the red man, aided but by a 

 single paddle, will thread the quiet brook and deep run- 



