ESKIMOS 155 



terminating in a knob about a foot long, which projects slightly 

 above the water. The front of the well is situated about the 

 middle of the length, so that the opening is in the fore part of 

 the after-half of the deck. It is roughly oval in shape, and is 

 surrounded by a wooden combing about six inches deep, so 

 placed as to slope upwards towards the bow. The boat is pro- 

 pelled by a narrow double paddle. The frame' is made of thin 

 strips of wood forming the gunwales, and of five or seven addi- 

 tional strips, one of which is the keelson. These are kept in 

 place by light ribs placed about a foot apart, with corresponding 

 deck beams. Considerable mechanical skill is displayed in the 

 making of this frame, which is all fitted together without the 

 use of a single nail, wooden pegs and sinew lashings being alone 

 used. 



The natives about Cumberland gulf and along the west side 

 of Hudson bay, who are employed by the whalers, are gradually 

 giving up the use of the kyak, and now do their hunting and 

 travelling with whaleboats, which are supplied to them by the 

 whaling vessels. Each vessel at the end of her voyage generally 

 leaves all spare boats behind. These are distributed among the 

 natives, and the result is that nearly every family possesses a 

 boat. The Aivilliks and Kenipitus, of the west coast of Hudson 

 bay, still make use of the kyak for inland hunting, but the 

 Cumberland people take their whaleboats into the interior. 



The Kenipitu kyak is extraordinary in shape. It is long and 

 narrow and quite deep, so that the midship section is almost 

 semicircular. The ends terminate in long narrow points, of 

 which the bow end slopes downward towards the water and the 

 stern end is inclined upwards. This kyak is so narrow that the 

 combing of the well sometimes projects beyond the sides. Being- 

 narrow and cranky, a good deal of skill is required to handle 

 these craft with safety, and accidents caused by upsetting are 

 not uncommon. These kyaks are covered with parchment deer- 

 skin, and are the only ones painted, various colours being 

 154 



