MURDOCH. ] SLEDGES. 355 
made from a small photograph) meet the curved slender rails (which 
are usually round) in front, but are separated from them behind by four 
stout vertical posts on each side, increasing in length toward the other 
end and mortised into the runners and rails. An equal number of stout 
wooden arches half the height of the posts are mortised into the run- 
ners, each arch a little in front of each pair of posts. A longitudinal 
strip runs along the middle of each side, and slats are laid across these, 
supported by the arches. The sledge is rather heavy and clumsy, but 
usually carefully made and often painted with red ocher. 
Fic. 357.—Flat sledge. 
Of the unia or flat sledge we have, fortunately a good photograph, 
Fig. 357. To the thick straight wooden runners are fastened directly 
seven cross slats, which project about 2 inches at each end beyond the 
runner, to which they are fastened by two stitches of whalebone each. 
A longitudinal strip runs along above the slats on each side. These 
sledges are generally made on the same pattern, varying somewhat in 
Fig. 358.—Small sledge with ivory runners. 
size. A common size is about 6 feet long, about 24 feet wide, and 9 or 
10 inches high. Very small sledges of this pattern are sometimes made, 
especially for the purpose, as we were told, of carrying provisions, per- 
haps when one or two persons desire to make a rapid journey of some 
length, or for carrying a small share of meat from camp to camp. 
One of these (Fig. 358, No. $9889 [1140], from Utkiavwit), which shows 
signs of long use, was brought home. It is 20-7 inches long and 13 broad, 
and has ivory runners, with three wooden slats across them, held down 
‘The word used was ‘‘kau-kau.”” Perhapsit referred to a seal for food, as the sledge appears very like 
one described by Hooper (Corwin Report, p. 105) as used on the “ Arctic Coast.” “* When sealing on 
solid ice a small sled is sometimes used, the ronners of which are made of walrus tusks. It is per- 
haps 16 inches long by 14 inches wide and 3 inches high. It is used in dragging the carcass of the 
seal over the ice.” 
We, however, never saw such sleds used for dragging seals. This one may have been imported from 
farther south. See also, Beechey, Voyage, etc., p. 251, where he speaks of seeing at Kotzebue Sound, a 
drawing on ivory of ‘‘a seal dragged home on a small sledge.” 
