EXTRACTS. 273 



The others are of the Bark of Birch Trees, of a Width less in Proportion than 

 their Length, and much better made : It is these that I am going to describe, 

 because all the French, and almost all the Savages use them. 



" They lay the Bark, which is very thick, on flat and very thin Ribs made 

 of Cedar : These Ribs are confined their whole Length by small Cross-Bars, 

 which separate the Seats of the Canoe ; two main Pieces of the same Wood, to 

 which these little Bars are sew'cl, strengthen the whole Machine. Between the 

 Ribs and the Bark they thrust little Pieces of Cedar, which are thinner still than 

 the Ribs, and which help to strengthen the Canoe, the two Ends of which rise 

 by Degrees, and insensibly end in sharp Points that turn inwards. These two 

 Ends are exactly alike ; so that to change their Course, and turn back, the 

 Canoe-Men need only change Hands. He who is behind steers with his Oar, 

 working continually ; and the greatest Occupation of him who is forward, is to 

 take Care that the Canoe touches nothing to burst it. They sit or kneel on the 

 Bottom, and their Oars are Paddles of five or six Feet long, commonly of Maple ; 

 but when they go against a Current that is pretty strong, they must use a Pole, 

 and stand upright. One must have a good deal of Practice to preserve a Ballance 

 in this Exercise, for nothing is lighter, and of Consequence easier to overset, than 

 these Canoes ; the greatest of which, with their Loading, does not draw more 

 than half a Foot Water. 



" The Bark of which these Canoes are made, as well as the Ribs and the 

 Bars, are sew'd with the Roots of Fir, which are more pliable, and dry much 

 less than the Ozier. All the Seams are gum'd within and without, but they must 

 be viewed every Day, to see that the Gum is not peeled off. The largest Canoes 

 carry twelve Men, two upon a Seat; and 4000 1. Weight. Of all the Savages, 

 the most skilful Builders of Canoes are the Outaouais ; and in general the Algon- 

 quin Nations succeed herein better than the Hurons. Few French as yet can 

 make them even tolerably ; but to guide them, they are at least as safe as the 

 Savages of the Country." (Page 117).* 



Henry (Alexander): Travels and Adventures in Canada and the Indian Terri- 

 tories, between the years 1760 and 1776 ; New York, 1809. "The white-fish is 

 taken (at Michilimakinac) in nets which are set under the ice. To do this, 



* Father Lafitau gives a similar account of the building of bark canoes, bestowing much praise on those made 

 by the Algonkin nations, which he calls the master-pieces of savage art, but speaking disapprovingly of the Iro- 

 quois canoes. 



"The Iroquois," he says, " make no canoes of birch bark, but buy them from other nations, or make in their 

 stead canoes of elm bark. These latter scarcely serve for more than one voyage, as they are less solid than the 

 others, and can easily be replaced in case of loss. They consist of one piece, and are made with all possible inac- 

 curacy and clumsiness." Mceurs des Sauvages Ameriquains ; Paris, 1724; Vol. II, p. 213, etc. 



By far the best description of modern manufacture of bark canoes among the Ojibways is that by J. G. Kohl, 

 who devotes to the subject a whole chapter (or letter) in his work entitled " Kitschi-Gami oder Erzahlungen vom 

 Obern See," published at Bremen in 1859 (Vol. I, p. 41, etc.). This work has been translated into English by 

 L. Wraxall, under the title " Kitchi Garni. "Wanderings round Lake Superior " (London, 1860). 



R35 



