THE ESKIMOS. 139 
abandoned for the skin tents they sometimes become so 
soft that they cave in upon the occupants, causing 
much sickness in the form of colds and pneumonia. 
In their workmanship the Eskimos are always neat. 
Wood is used for manufacturing purposes when it is 
available, but all they are able to procure is of a 
fragmentary nature, such as has drifted from some dis- 
tant shore, or from the wreck of an unfortunate vessel. 
It is from this rough and scanty material they frame 
their kyacks, make their sleds, tent-poles, and the 
handles of their spears and harpoons; from it they 
fashion their bows and many other useful or orna- 
mental things, and by exercise of untiring perseverance 
and skill they manage to produce marvellous results. 
For example, a paddle is often made of two or three 
pieces of wood, but these are joined together so neatly 
that if it were not for the seal thong lashings the joints 
would not be noticeable. 
The lashings are put on green, or after having been 
softened in water, and are drawn tightly, so that when 
they become dry and shrink they produce strong and 
rigid joints. 
The process by which these lashing-thongs and heavy 
lines for hunting purposes, as well as the small thread 
for sewing, are manufactured is very interesting. A 
heavy harpoon line, used in the hunt for securing wal- 
ruses, is made from the skin of the “square flipper ” seal, 
a large species about eight feet long. For such use the 
skin is not removed from the carcase in the usual way, 
but is pulled off without cutting it, as one might pull off 
a wet stocking. The whole hide is thus preserved in 
the form of a sack. It is then placed in water, and 
allowed to remain there for several days, until the thin 
