CANOES 35 



the ' bowman ' jumps out before the canoe 

 touches bottom and draws her safely ashore. 

 He and the ' steersman ' then carry her over 

 the portage, while the rest carry the cargo 

 on their backs. A man's own weight is a fair 

 load; but with a sling across their foreheads, 

 and clasped hands behind their heads, strong 

 men have carried twice as much and more. 

 When a rapid has to be ascended the canoe is 

 lightened as much as need be, the steel-shod 

 poles are got out, and the bow and stern 

 paddlers stand up to their work, balancing 

 themselves as easily as other men would on 

 dry land. 



But it is when a rapid is to be ' run ' that the 

 finest skill is shown. If there is any doubt the 

 steersman walks down to take a good look first. 

 Then, if necessary, some or all of the cargo is 

 taken out and portaged to the next ' steady ' 

 in the river. Rapids are so common in some 

 journeys that canoemen think less of them 

 than foxhunters think of five-barred gates. 

 In most cases a mistake means death ; so 

 every nerve and muscle is kept tensely ready 

 the whole run through. The current should 

 be ' humoured ' ; for it does a surprising 

 amount of the work itself. If rightly headed 

 with the main throw of it the canoe will 



