■» 



224 DESCRIPTION OF GREENLAND. 



the two ends where these sticks are joined and fastened toge- 

 ther ; on the opening or circle above, to the circumference 

 of which all the sticks must be brought ; and on the half 

 circle below, which is fastened to the upper circle like a 

 basket-handle turned upside down. Picture to yourself that 

 through this half circle pass or terminate both the ribs and the 

 crossribs, and the whole is so well sewn and bound and so 

 well stretched, that it is capable, from its lightness and the 

 skill with which it is built, to bear the tossings of a storm 

 in a high sea. The savages sit in the bottom of these boats 

 through the opening above, with their feet extended to one 

 end, and they fill up the hole by fastening over it the lower 

 part of their under waistcoasts, made of the skins of seals 

 and walruses : they close up the wrists of their sleeves and 

 cover their heads with caps fastened to the edge of their dress 

 in such a manner, that when a storm overturns them (which 

 is very often the case), the water cannot enter by any place, 

 cither in the boats or their clothes. They always come up again 

 on the Avater, and thus save themselves much better in a storm 

 than if they were in large vessels. They only use one little oar, 

 from five to six feet in length, smooth, and about half a foot 

 in breadth at each end. They grasp it with both hands at 

 the middle, which is round, and use it with equal poise to 

 keep their equilibrium, and also as a double oar to row on 

 both sides. It was not without reason that I have compared 

 these boats to weaver's shuttles ; for the shuttles from the 

 hands of the most skilful weavers, do not run faster in the 

 loom than the boats managed by these oars, with the skill of 

 these savages, run on the water. The Spanish ambassador 

 was delighted to see the five savages practise this exercise. 

 They crossed and interlaced with each other with such 

 rapidity, that the eye grew c[uite confused with looking ; 

 and so skilfully was it done, that not one of them touched 

 each other. The king wished to prove the swiftness of one 

 of these little boats against a sloop equipped with sixteen 



