CANOES 35 



the ' bowman ' jumps out before the canoe 

 touches bottom and draws her safely ashore. 

 He and the * steersman ' then carry her over 

 the portage, while the rest carry the cargo 

 on their backs. A man's own weight is a fair 

 load; but with a sling across their foreheads, 

 and clasped hands behind their heads, strong 

 men have carried twice as much and more. 

 When a rapid has to be ascended the canoe is 

 lightened as much as need be, the steel-shod 

 poles are got out, and the bow ^,nd stern 

 paddlers stand up to their work, balancing 

 themselves as easily as other men would on 

 dry land. 



But it is when a rapid is to be ' run * that the 

 finest skill is shown. If there is any doubt the 

 steersman walks down to take a good look first. 

 Then, if necessary, some or all of the cargo is 

 taken out and portaged to the next ' steady ' 

 in the river. Rapids are so common in some 

 journeys that canoemen think less of them 

 than foxhunters think of five-barred gates. 

 In most cases a mistake means death ; so 

 every nerve and muscle is kept tensely ready 

 the whole run through. The current should 

 be ' humoured ' ; for it does a surprising 

 amount of the work itself. If rightly headed 

 with the main throw of it the canoe will 



