TURNER,] MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. 237 



they are lifted around it and temporarily placed in position. The 

 superfluous portions are cut out or additional pieces put in until it 

 fits properly on the frame. Holes, 3 or 4 inches apart, are cut in the 

 edges of the skin and stout thongs are passed through these and over 

 the top rail to the inner rail. All the strength of the individual is now- 

 applied to draw the skin over the top rail. Being w^et it readily stretches, 

 and when the entire covering is drawn sufficiently tight the lashing 

 around the rail is permanently fastened. Tlie boat is then turned keel 

 up to dry. If the skin has been properly cut and stretched it sounds 

 like a drum when struck. 



When in use the greatest care must be exercised to prevent contact 

 with rocks, but i:i shallow water it frequently happens that a hole is 

 cut in the skin of tlie boat, when the rent must be patched with a piece 

 of skin. During tiie winter months the umiak is placed on staging of 

 posts to protect it from the ravages of mice and other animals. 



Joirrneys of considerable length are undertaken in these boats. A 

 large family, or two or more families, may remove to a distance to try 

 their fortunes. They always stop at 7iight and during bad weather, 

 and the journey is accomplished by easy stages. All the portable 

 possessions of the family are taken in these boats, which are often 

 loaded to such a degree that the older peoiile have to walk along the 

 shores and only go into the umiak to relieve some one who desires to 

 walk. Where the beach is good a tracking line is attached to the bow 

 and those on shore drag the boat along. The dogs which accompany 

 the party are sometimes harnessed and made to pull. The tracking 

 line is called into requisition whenever a trip is made up a river to the 

 hunting grounds for reindeer. 



The kaiak or skin canoe used by the Eskimo of Hudson strait be- 

 longs to the Cheenland type. It is quite ditt'erent from that used by 

 the natives of Alaska. These boats vary from IS to 20 feet in length; 

 the greatest width, one-third of the distance aft the hole where the 

 rower sits, being one-seventh to one-ninth of the entire length of the 

 kaiak. The ends are sharp, the prow much more acute than the 

 stern. The bottom is quite flat and the frame for the keel and sides 

 at the bottom is arranged similarly to that of the umiak. The prow 

 is simply an extension of the keel and slopes above the water to a 

 height nearly double that of the stern. The slope of the stern is 

 gradual and short. The side timbers at the bottom have the upper 

 surface gouged so as to allow the lower ends of the nearly perpendicu- 

 lar ribs to rest in the groove. The ribs extend across the bottom, rest- 

 ing on the side timber and keel. Their upper ends are inserted in the 

 upper rail, which extends the entire length of the kaiak. The upper 

 rails are held apart by crosspieces of dift'erent lengtlis, according to 

 position. Ou the top of these upper crosspieces is laid a piece which 

 extends to the nose of the kaiak. A similar, but shorter one, is laid 



