THE ESKIMOS. 



abandoned for the skin tents they sometimes become so 

 soft that they cave in upon the occupants, causing 

 much sickness in the form of colds and pneumonia. 



In their workmanship the Eskimos are always neat. 

 Wood is used for manufacturing purposes when it is 

 available, but all they are able to procure is of a 

 fragmentary nature, such as has drifted from some dis- 

 tant shore, or from the wreck of an unfortunate vessel. 

 It is from this rough and scanty material they frame 

 their kyacks, make their sleds, tent-poles, and the 

 handles of their spears and harpoons; from it they 

 fashion their bows and many other useful or orna- 

 mental things, and by exercise of untiring perseverance 

 and skill they manage to produce marvellous results. 

 For example, a paddle is often made of two or three 

 pieces of wood, but these are joined together so neatly 

 that if it were not for the seal thong lashings the joints 

 would not be noticeable. 



The lashings are put on green, or after having been 

 softened in water, and are drawn tightly, so that when c 

 they become dry and shrink they produce strong and 

 rigid joints. 



The process by which these lashing-thongs and heavy 

 lines for hunting purposes, as well as the small thread 

 for sewing, are manufactured is very interesting. A 

 heavy harpoon line, used in the hunt for securing wal- 

 ruses, is made from the skin of the " square flipper " seal, 

 a large species about eight feet long. For such use the 

 skin is not removed from the carcase in the usual way, 

 but is pulled off without cutting it, as one might pull off 

 a wet stocking. The whole hide is thus preserved in 

 the form of a sack. It is then placed in water, and 

 allowed to remain there for several days, until the thin 



