236 THE HUDSON BAY ESKIMO. 



keel. The ribs are attached to the lower or bottom rail by means of 

 sealskin lashing. Along the npper ends of the ribs is placed a longer 

 ra. of smaller diameter and usually shaved round. This rail is usually 

 set half its diameter into rounded notches of the upper ends of the ribs 

 and fastened by thongs. Within and below the top rail is a shorter rail, 

 generally Smaller than the upper, tied by thongs to the ribs and posts 

 fore and aft. A wide board projecting several inches on each side of 

 the stern serves as a seat for the steersman. The ends of the top rails 

 are laid over this board and attached to it. A similar board is placed 

 at the forward end or bow, but is, of course, longer as that end is the 

 wider of the two. 



Three to five thwarts, serving as seats for the occupants, are placed 

 at proper intervals, having their ends resting on the inside top rail. 

 One of these thwarts also serves to steady the mast, which is stepped 

 into the keel and lashed to the thwart. 



On the side of the boat and resting on the toji rail are pieces of wood 

 firmly lashed. A notch, or rowlock, is cut into them to serve as lests 

 for the heavy oars. The oars are held into the notch by means of loops 

 of stout thong, the ends of the loops passing each other, one from for- 

 ward and the other from aft, and through both of the loop ends the in- 

 ner end of the oar is thrust. The loops serve to hold the oar when not 

 in use, otherwise it Avould float away; yet the position of them allows 

 the oars to lie alongside in the water. The oars are heavy and as mucli as 

 10 feet long for a large umiak. The women generally run the boat and 

 are assisted by the younger men of the party who may not be walking 

 along the shore. Two or more females sit side by side and if they be 

 insufiScient a third person foces them and assists in the labor. It is a 

 favorite iilace for a young man with his sweetheart. The steersman 

 sits on the after board and attends to the helm and sail when the latter 

 is in use. The sail is a nearly square sheet of cloth spread by a yard 

 across the top. The lower corners have each a rope which the helms- 

 man holds. A fair wind only can be used to advantage as the oomiak, 

 fiom its flat bottom, is unable to go to windward. With a breeze nearly 

 aft they can be made to sail at a good speed. 



The covering of the umiak is made of skins of the largest seals. 

 Tlie skins are freed from hair and all adhering flesh and fat, and 

 stretched to their utmost tension. 



They are then cut into the proper shape and sewed together. The 

 edge of one skin overlaps tliat of the other and the lap is then tacked 

 over the shorter edge and attached to the other skin so as to form two 

 seams at each junction. 



Those portions which are to cover the bottom are sewed with special 

 care, as the seams are liable to be strained in shoving the boat over the 

 oars when it is taken from the water at each camp. When skins are 

 sewed side to side iu suflicieut number to fit the length of the frame 



