THE NORTH-EAST PASSAGE. 39 



which form their principal food, are caught. The 

 net is extended between two blocks of ice, and the 

 seals get entangled in its meshes, and so become an 

 easy prey to the hunters. 



Their dog-sledges, which are constructed of thin 

 pieces of wood, tied together with strips of seal-hide, 

 combine to a high degree strength with elasticity, 

 and are singularly light. 



Their mode of conveyance by sea is the Ttajdk, or 

 the " large boat." The kajak, quite similar to the 

 Greenland kajak, is covered with seal-hide : it only 

 carries one man, who propels it by means of a corn- 

 man kajak oar or paddle. The " large boat," which 

 also resembles the boat used in Greenland under the 

 name of the " women's-boat," is upwards of thirty feet 

 long. It is rowed by six to ten men, with common 

 oars, or pagajas. This boat is constructed of a thin 

 wooden frame, covered with seal and walrus hides. 

 It has a flat bottom, from which its sides project at 

 right angles. Its carrying capacity is very great. I 

 have seen such boats having thirty people on board. 



The hammer of the Tchuktchis consists of a stone 

 tied to a stick ; their spade, of a walrus's shoulder- 

 blade fastened to a stick ; and in the same manner 

 they contrive other necessary domestic utensils and 

 tools. They are perfect masters in the art of joining 

 by means of thongs of seal-hide. 



The principal food of the natives consists of seal- 

 flesh and blubber, in addition to which they use 



