TUHNEKl OUTDOOR LIFE. 205 



111 all uadertakiiigs for themselves they deliberate long, with much 

 hesitation and apparent reluctance, before they decide upon the line of 

 action. They consult each other and weigh the advantages of this over 

 that locality for game, and speculate on whether they will be aiBicted 

 with illness of themselves or family. When the resolution is finally 

 made to journey to a certain place, only the most serious obstacles can 

 thwart their purpose. 



At all seasons of the year the women have their allotted duties, which 

 they perform without hesitation. They bring the wood and the water, 

 and the food from the field, if it is not too distant, in which case the 

 men go after it with the dog teams. The women also fashion the skins 

 into clothing and other articles, and do the cooking. After a hunt of 

 several days' duration the husband's appearance is anxiously awaited, 

 as is indicated by the family scanning the direction whence he is ex- 

 pected. The load is taken from the sled or boat and the incidents of 

 the chase recited to the ever ready listeners. 



In the early spring the women are busily engaged in making boots 

 for summer wear. The skins of the seals have been prepared the fall 

 before and stored away until wanted. The method of tanning the 

 skins is the same for each species, differing only in its size and weight. 



Certain large vessels made of wood or metal, chiefly the latter, as 

 they are easily procured from the traders, are used to hold a liquid, 

 which is from time to time added to. When a sufficient amount is 

 collected it is allowed to ferment. During the interval the skin of the 

 seal is cleansed from fat and flesh. The hair has been removed by 

 shaving it off or by pulling it out. The skin is then dressed with an 

 instrument designed for that purpose, made of ivory, deerhorn, stone. 

 or even a piece of tin set in the end of a stout stick several inches 

 long. The skin is held iu the hand and the chisel-shaped implement 

 is repeatedly pushed from the person and against a portion of the 

 skin until that part becomes pliable and soft enough to work. It is 

 further softened by rubbing between the hands with a motion similar 

 to that of the washerwoman rubbing clothing of the wash. Any por- 

 tion of the skin which will not readily yield to this manipulation is 

 chewed with the ii'ont teeth until it is reduced to the required plia- 

 bility. After this operation has been completed the skin is soaked iu 

 the liquid, which has now ripened to a sufdcient degree to be eftective. 

 In this it is laid for a period lasting from several hours to two or three 

 days. The skin is now taken out and dried. The subsequent opera- 

 tion of softening is similar to that just described, and is final. It is 

 now ready to be cut into the required shape for the various articles for 

 which it is intended. If it is designed for boots for a man, the measure 

 of the height of the leg is taken. The length and width of the sole is 

 measured by the hand, stretching so far and then bending down the 

 long or middle finger until the length is measured. The width of one, 

 two, or more fingers is sometimes used iu addition to the span. The 



