THE ALASKAN SEA-LION. 



371 



at a time, if properly air-dried and oiled. After being used during 

 the day these skin boats are always drawn out on the beach, turned 

 bottom-side up and air-dried during the night in this way made 

 ready for employment again on the morrow. 



A peculiar value is attached to the intestines of the sea-lion , 

 which, after skinning, are distended with air and allowed to dry 

 in that shape ; then they are cut into ribbons and sewed strongly 

 together into that most characteristic rain-proof garment of the 

 world, known as the "kamlayka," which, while being fully as 

 water-repellant as india-rubber, has far greater strength, and is 

 never affected by grease and oil. It is also transparent in its fit- 

 ting over dark clothes. The sea-lions' throats are treated in a 

 similar manner, and when cured, are made into boot tops, which 



The " Bidarrah." 

 [Characteristic Alaskan boat, made by Jilting tea- lion skiius over a wooden frame and keel.} 



are in turn soled by very tough skin that composes the palms of 

 this animal's fore nippers. 



The Aleutian name for this garment is unpronounceable in our 

 language, and equally so in the more flexible Eussian ; hence the 

 Alaskan " kamlayka," derived from the Siberian "kamlaia." That 

 is made of tanned reindeer skin, unhaired, and smoked by larch 

 bark until it is colored a saffron yellow ; and is worn over a rein- 

 deer-skin undershirt, which has the hair next to its owner's skin, 

 and the obverse side stained red by a decoction of alder- bark. The 

 kamlaia is closed behind and before, and a hood, fastened to the 

 back of the neck, is drawn over the head, when leaving shelter ; so 

 is the Aleutian kamlayka ; only the one of Kolyma is used to keep 

 out piercing dry cold, while the garment of the Bering Sea is a per- 

 fect water-tight affair. 



