NORTHERN OCEAN 135 



wood-work, consist of a hatchet, a knife, a file, and an awl ; 1771. 

 in the use of which they are so dextrous, that every thing ^^' 

 they make is executed with a neatness not to be excelled by 

 the most expert mechanic, assisted with every tool he could 

 wish. 



In shape the Northern Indian canoe bears some resemblance 

 to a weaver's shuttle ; being flat-bottomed, with straight up- 

 right sides, and sharp at each end ; but the stern is by far the 

 widest part, as there the baggage is generally laid, and occa- 

 sionally a second person, who always lies down at full length 

 in the bottom of the canoe. In this manner they carry one 

 another across rivers and the narrow [98] parts of lakes in those 

 little vessels, which seldom exceed twelve or thirteen feet in 

 length, and are from twenty inches to two feet broad in the 

 widest part. The head, or fore part, is unnecessarily long, 

 and narrow ; and is all covered over with birch-bark, which 

 adds considerably to the weight, without contributing to the 

 burthen of the vessel. In general, these Indians make use of 

 the single paddle, though a few have double ones, like the 

 Esquimaux : the latter, however, are seldom used, but by 

 those who lie in wait to kill deer as they cross rivers and 

 narrow lakes.* 



During our stay at Clowey we were joined by upward of 

 two hundred Indians from different quarters, most of whom 

 built canoes at this place ; but as I v/as under the protection 



* See the Plate, where Fig. A represents the bottom of the canoe, Fig. B 

 being the fore-part. Fig. C is the complete frame of one before it is covered 

 with the bark of the birch-tree ; it is represented on an artificial bank, which 

 the natives raise to build it on. Fig. D is an end-view of a set of timbers, 

 bent and lashed in their proper shape, and left to dry. Fig. E is the repre- 

 sentation of a complete canoe. Fig. F represents one of their paddles. Fig. 

 G a spear with which they kill deer; and Fig. H, their mode of carrying the 

 canoe. 



The following references are to the several parts of the canoe : Fig. C. 

 I. The stem. 2. The stern-post. 3. Two forked sticks supporting the stem 

 and stern-post. 4. The gunwales. 5. Small rods placed between the timbers 

 and birch-bark that covers them. 6. The timbers. 7. The keelson. 8. Large 

 stones placed there to keep the bottom steady till the sides are sewed on. 



