22 BEASTS AND MEN 
decked over except for a small hole amidships. The canoe- 
man, who propels his little vessel with a double-bladed 
paddle, sits himself in this hole, which he exactly fits and 
completely fills up, his legs being hidden beneath the foreward 
decking. In this position the Eskimos are able to execute 
a most remarkable manceuvre. If the canoe be upset, the — 
man is, of course, still firmly fixed in his hole, and is then 
hanging head downwards from the upturned boat. But so 
skilful are they that, when this accident occurs and they find 
themselves immersed, they are able by means of the paddle to 
right the canoe and in this way save. themselves from drown- 
ing. As may be well imagined, the ability to perform this feat 
‘is an absolute necessity to 
the Greenlanders in their 
native haunts, for in rough 
weather the small kayaks 
are naturally very liable 
to capsize, and any one 
who is less adept than his 
fellows will pay the penalty 
with his: life. Ukubak 
was a wonderfully expert 
canoeman, and used fre- 
quently ‘to upset and then 
right his kayak for the 
‘edification of the visitors 
~ tomy Gardens. He re- 
- garded it as a joke, and 
“never grew tired of re- 
peating. the performance. 
The proceeding did not 
even cause him any. dis- 
comfort; ‘for; like all his 
. - race, he was dressed in 
waterproof clothing which, as I have said, completely filled 
, Ukubak’s wife. 
