5 T 4 
A VOYAGE TO 
1778. 
O&ober. 
fome little difference in the conftruftion. The ftern of 
thefe terminates a little abruptly; the head is forked ; the 
upper point of the fork projecting without the under one, 
which is even with the furface of the water. Why they 
fhould thus conftruCt them is difficult to conceive ; for the 
fork is apt to catch hold of every thing that comes in the 
way; to prevent which, they fix a piece of fmall flick from 
point to point. In other refpedts, their canoes are built 
after the manner of thofe ufed by the Greenlanders and 
Efquimaux; the framing being of llender laths, and the 
covering of feal-fkins. They are about twelve feet long; 
a foot and a half broad in the middle ; and twelve or four¬ 
teen inches deep. Upon occafion, they can carry two per- 
fons; one of whom is ftretched at full length in the canoe ; 
and the other fits in the feat, or round hole, which is nearly 
in the middle. Round this hole is a rim or hoop of wood, 
about which is fewed gut-fkin, that can be drawn together, 
or opened like a purfe, with leathern thongs fitted to the 
outer edge. The man feats himfelf in this place; draws 
the fkin tight round his body over his gut frock, and 
brings the ends of the thongs, or purfe-ftring, over the 
fhoulder to keep it in its place. The fleeves of his frock 
are tied tight round his wrifts; and it being clofe round 
his neck, and the hood drawn over his head, where it is 
confined by his cap, water can fcarcely penetrate either to 
his body, or into the canoe. If any fhould, however, in- 
finuate itfelf, the boatman carries a piece of fpunge, with 
which he dries it up. He ufes the double-bladed paddle, 
which is held with both hands in the middle, ftriking the 
water with a quick regular motion, firif on one fide and 
then on the other. By this means the canoe is impelled 
at a great rate, and in a direction as ftraight as a fine can 
1 he 
