BOAS] CONSTRUCTION OF THE SLEDGE. 529 



to protect it from the friction of the oar, which woiikl quickly wear 

 it through (Fig. 481 a). On each side of the bone a thong is fast- 

 ened to tlie tuving, forming a loop. Both loops cross each other like 

 two rings of a chain. The oar i.s drawn through both loops, which 

 are twisted by toggles until they become tight. Then the toggles are 

 secured between the gunwale and the tuving. 



The oar (ipun) consists of a long shaft and an oval or round blade 

 fastened to the shaft by thongs. Two grooves and the tapering end 

 serve for handles in pulling. Generally three or four women Avork 

 at each oar. 



For steering, a paddle is used of the same kind as that used in whal- 

 ing (see p. 499). A rudder is rarely found (Fig. 480), and when iised 

 most probably is made in imitation of Eurojjean devices. 



If the wind permits, a sail is set; but the bulky vessel can only riin 

 with the wind. The mast is set in the stem, a mortise being cut in 

 the forehead of the main timber, with a notch in the wooden piece 

 above it to steady it. A stout thong, which passes through two holes 

 on each side of the notch, secures the mast to the wooden head piece. 

 The sail, which is made of seal intestines carefully sewed t^^■l■thl■r, is 

 squared and fastened by loops to a yard (sadnirinq) which is tiinmnMl 

 with straj^s of deerskin. It is hoisted byarope m.-uli' nf sealskin and 

 passing over a sheave in the top of the mast. This rope is tied to the 

 thwart farthest abaft, while the sheets are fastened to the foremost 

 one. 



THE SLEDGE AND DOGS. 



During the greater part of the year the only passable road is that 

 afforded by the ice and snow; therefore sledges (qamuting) of dif- 

 ferent constructions are used in traveling. 



The best model is made by the tribes of Hudson Strait and Davis 



Strait, for the driftwood which they can obtain in abundance admits 



the use of long wooden runners. Their sledges (Fig. 482) have two 



runners, from five to fifteen feet long and from twenty inches to two 



6 ETH 34 



