TURNER.] TRAVELING ON LAND. 241 



(idgs. Tlio miiiiber of (lnj;-,s used to draw a sled varies aeeording to 

 the distaucc to be traveled, the cLiaraeter of the country, the condition 

 of tiie animals, and the weight of the load to be drawn. From one to 

 twenty dogs may be used. The common team for general i)nri)()ses is 

 seven or nine animals. 



The method of constructing sleds differs slightly in diflfereiit parts of 

 the region, and then only where the material may be difficult to obtain 

 or a heavy sled may not be needed. A tree of a suitable size is 

 selected, generally larch, because of its greater strength, although 

 soinewhat heavier than the spruce. 



It is necessary, lor greater strength, that each runner be oia single 

 piece of timljer. The length of the runner is from 12 to 10 feet; the 

 height varies from 10 to 12 niches. The piece nuis; be as nearly free 

 from knots and crossgrain as possible, for these defects render the 

 wood very brittle during cold weather. The runners are roughly hewn 

 at tiie place where originally cut, and, when needed, they are brought 

 to the temporary camping phice of the Eskimo, and there dressed with 

 plane and saw to the reijuired form. The bottom of the ruiiuer is 

 usually 2i to 3 inches thick, gradually becoming thinner by one-half an 

 iilcli to an inch toward the top. This enables the sled to make a wider 

 track at the bottom and encounter less friction of the runner sides 

 against the snow crust. The curve at the forward end is long and 

 very gradual. There may be as much as 3 feet of the curved part, 

 which rises above the level of the lower edge of the runner. This 

 enables the sled to creep easily over any obstruction. The runners are 

 now placed parallel, separated by a distance of 141o 16 inches, and on 

 these are fastened crossbars 3 inches wide, of sufficient length to 

 allow about an inch to project over the outer edge of each runner. 

 Near the ends of these slats is cut a notch on each edge. Sometimes 

 a hole is also bored through the slat between the notches. These are 

 for the purpose of fastening the slats to the runners. A sufficient 

 number having been prepared, and placed 1 or 2 inches apart, they are 

 now laid on the flat top of the runner. Holes are bored through the 

 top of the runner to correspond with the holes and notches of the slats. 

 Through these and over the slats a stout piece of heavy sealskin line 

 is threaded, and so on through and over the slats and runner until it is 

 firmly fastened. The line must be well soaked in water to render it 

 flexible and allow it to stretch, otherwise the joints where it was tied 

 would soon work loose. The line shrinks while drying, and draws as 

 tight as though made of the best iron. No metal is used, for the 

 reason that it would snap as easily as chalk during cold weather. 

 The use of the thongs in binding the slats to the runners allows free 

 dom to the motion of the sled when passing over inequalities of sur- 

 face, wliere a rigidity of the sled would soon cause it to break. The 

 bottom of the runner is shod with iron bi'ought by the traders for that 



11 ETH 16 



