256 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1887. 



as any one of the Eskimo hunters. This art may have been suggested 

 by the tackle used by the Kussiaus on their ships. 



In many places along the sloping beaches and quiet waters the Es- 

 kimo has learned to track or tow his loaded oomiak. Again, on land 

 he is often compelled to draw loads without the aid of a sledge. For 

 these purposes he has invented a breast- board of wood. The specimens 

 in the National Museum are from Nunivak Island and Oogashik, on the 

 Alaskan peninsula. These localities have between them the shallows 

 and inlets of Kuskokvim and Bristol Bays. The board is made of drift- 

 wood and has the curve to fit around the breast at the shoulders (Fig. 2). 

 Unfortunately no description of the manner of use accompanies the SpeC- 



Fig. 2. 

 Breast Yokes used in hitching the Eskimo to his load. 



a. (Cat. No. 127326, V. S. N. M.. from OogaBbik, Alaska. Collected by S. Appleante. h and c. (Cat. Nos. 

 16251-2), from NunWak Island. Collected by Dr. W. H. Dall.) 



imeus, so we must remain in doubt as to the way in which the primitive 

 draft-man hitched himself up. In the northern regions traction of 

 sledges is performed by dogs, either alone or assisted by men. There 

 is no doubt, however, that the sledge was in use before the dog was do- 

 mesticated. The material and style of the sledge vary much according 

 to the region. Dr. E. E. Young, who spent many years in the Saskatch- 

 ewan regions, says that a great deal of sledging is done by men. He 

 has even seen dogs disabled riding on a sled drawn by men. In 

 the east it is ruder than in the west. In Labrador, where timber can 

 be procured, the sledge differs little from that of the schoolboy. Only 

 the uprights at the back enable the driver to steer. Farther north bits 

 of old wrecks or sections of whale jaw do duty for runners. The method 

 of putting a coating of ice on the bottom of the runners is very ingenious 

 and effective. 



Parry's description of those in Igloolik is as follows : 

 "The Eskimo sledges vary in size, being from 6J to feet in length 

 and from IS inches to 2 feet in breadth. Some of those at Igloolik were 

 of larger dimensions, one being 11 feet in length and weighing 268 



