306 



THE HUDSON BAY ESKIMO. 



the bark. The ludiau often wets the canoe, lest it dry too rapidly and 

 split under tlie tension. When the form and make are satisfactory the 

 seams are smeared with a mixture of spruce gum (or resin bought from 

 the traders'), mixed with seal oil to render it less easily broken. This 

 mixture is while hot laid upon the dry surface with a small paddle. 



After the gum has sea-oned for a da\' or so the canoe is put upon the 

 water and tested for its speed and seaworthiness. All leaks and needed 

 repairs are immediately attended to, and it is at length 

 read}' for use. 



Many persons have not the skill needed to construct 

 a canoe, and they employ those who have had experience 

 and are known to build an excellent boat. 



There are two kinds of canoes in use among those In- 

 dians, difteriiig only in the shape of the stern and ])row. 

 The original form was nearly flat along the rails and had 

 the bow and .stern but little turned up. Of later years 

 iutercourse with some of their neighbors has induced 

 them to modify the nearly straight edge canoe into an 

 intermediate shape between their own and that of the 

 East Main Indians, whose canoes are very nnich turned 

 u]), and are acknowledged to be far superior vessels to 

 those of the Ungava Indians. 



As the forests in the \iciHity of Fort Chimo do not 

 contain birch trees, and none are found until the head- 

 waters of the Koksoak are reached, where they are too 

 small to aflord l)ark of sufBcient size and thickness, the 

 Indians are compelled to procure the bark from the 

 traders, who import it from the St. Lawrence river and 

 gulf stations to Fort Chimo. It comes in bundles large 

 enough to cover a single canoe of moderate size. If a 

 canoe is to be very large two bundles are required. The 

 value of a black fox skin jjurchases a bundle of bark. 



During the spring mtnitbs, while the weatlier is some- 

 what warm, the men are engaged in preparing the strips 

 and bark for the canoe which is to convey them up the 

 river when the ice breaks and the river is open for naW- 

 gation. 



The paddle has a single blade with a handle scarceiy 

 more than half tlie length of the paddle. It is used with 

 Spoon tor]jQj-], jiauds, the strokes being £>iven on alternate sides as 

 it glides through the water. 

 When it is necessary that a portage be made the voyager takes the 

 canoe upon his shoulders by letting one of the center thwarts rest on 

 the back of the neck. The bands are thrown backward to hold up the 

 end of the canoe from the ground. A headband, such as I have already 

 described, of birch bark or cloth, often fancifully ornamented with 



i''lr.. 125. 

 aiipl.viugfirt' 

 canoe. 



