72 



The ribs are placed quite close together, from 2 to 6 inches 

 apart. The two rim pieces (rails) are then placed under heavy- 

 stones to retain their shape. The so-called keel or centre- 

 piece (kmigak) is fitted in along with the side-pieces. Strictly 

 speaking, the kayak has no keel, and any one of the six or seven 

 side-pieces is as important as the other. Cross-pieces (a'yd't) 

 hold the rails apart on top, and an extra lengthwise strip runs 

 from the entrance hole (pa-k) to the stern {itirhi'n) and another 

 to the stem {ma'si'n). The upper section is usually built before 

 the bottom. It is placed upside down with heavy stones holding 

 the upper rails in place, which gives the shape to the kayak. 

 The ribs and side-pieces are then added. Space is left at the top 

 centre of the frame for the entrance hole. 



The skin covering {ame'qsiik) is then sewn and placed on the 

 kayak wet, and it draws tight on drying and shrinking. The 

 sewing has to be completed at one sitting before the skins dry, 

 so several women help. Double water-proof stitching, similar 

 to that used in the umiak cover, makes the boat watertight. 

 In Labrador, the kayaker has an entire suit (coat and trousers) 

 of gutskin (Plate VI). A drawstring {o'yvgut) is used to draw 

 the waterproof coat around the rim of the hole {pa-k), as in other 

 parts, and the upward slant of the frame of the kayak in front 

 of the hole tends to divert the water. Why gutskin trousers 

 are needed as well as a frock is not evident. It may be that on 

 account of the protection of the upturned front of the hole, the 

 drawstring is not much used, and a complete waterproof suit is 

 worn instead. 



The Labrador paddle {pau'tik), is double-bladed, like the 

 Greenland type. It is quite long — 10 to 12 feet. It is made of 

 hardwood, when it is obtainable, otherwise of spruce, and tipped 

 with ivory or bone, which is fastened to the wood with pegs of 

 the same material. The paddle is used alternately on either side 

 of the kayak, thus having a distinct advantage over the single- 

 bladed Alaskan paddle, as far as economy of motion is concerned. 



Great speed is maintained by the Eskimo in their frail 

 kayaks. It is said that a single Eskimo in a kayak will propel 

 it as fast as two white men will a canoe. The Eskimo ventures 

 out in a sea that an Indian would not dare attempt in his canoe, 



