The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1867-02-13


In the third chapter, DR.. Hayes de-
scribes the boat of the Greenlandcr. He
says:
;" The kayak is the frailcst specimen of
marine architecture that ever carried hu-
man freight. 1t is eighteen feet long, and
as many inches wide at its middle, to a
point at either end. The skeleton of the
boat is made of light wood the covering
is Of tanned seal-skin, sewed together by
the native women with sinew thread, and
with strength and dexterity quite aston
ishing. Not drop of water finds its way
through their seams, and the skin itself is
perfectly waterproof The boat is about
nine inches deep, and the top is covered
like the bottom. There is no opening into
it except round hole in the centre,
| which admits the hunter as far as the hips
This hole is surrounded with a rim, over
| which the kayaker laces the lower edge of
his water-tight jacket, and thus fastens
himself in and keeps the water out. He
propels himself with single oar about six
ieet long, which terminates in blade or
paddle at either end. This instrument OF
,ocomotiOn is grasped in the centre, and is
dipped in the water alternately to the right
and left. The boat is graceful as duck
and light as q feather. 1t has no ballast
and no keel, and it rides almost on the sur.
face of the water. It is therefore necessa-
rilly top-heavy. Long practice is required
to manage it, and no tight rope dancer
ever needed more skill of balance than this
savage kayaker. Yet, in this frail Graf,
would swamp an ordinary boat, or to break
through surf which may sweep complete.
ly over him. But he is used to hard bat.
ties, and in spite of every fortune, he keeps
himself upright"
A sketch Of icebergs is very interesting.
We quote:
GAS approached the berg was struck
with the remarkable transparency of the
water. Looking over the gunwale of the
boat, l could trace the ice stretching
downward apparently to an interminable
distance. Looking back at the schooner, its
reflection was perfect image of itself, and
it required only the separation of it from
the surrounding objects to give to the mind
the impression that two vessels, keel tC
keel, were floating in mid-air. This sin
gular transparency Of the water was fur
ther shown when had reached the top o
the berg. Of to the southeast higl
rocky bluff threw its dark shadow upor
the water, and the dividing line between
sunset and shade was so marked that it re
quired an effort to dispel the illusion thai
the margin of sunlight was not the edge O
fathomless abyss.
"It is difficult for the mind to compre
hend the immense amount of ice which
foated upon the sea around me. To en-
umerate the separate bergs was impossible
counted five hundred and gave up in dis
pair. Near by they stood out in all tn,
rugged harshness Of their sharp outlines
and from this, softening with the distance
they melted into the clear gray sky; ant
there, far of upon the sea Of liquid silver
the imagination conjured up efhgies boti
strange and wonderful. Birds and beasts
|, and human forms and architectural de
signs, took shape in the distant masses o
blue and white. The dome of St. Peter
loomed above the spire of Old Trinity, ant
under the shadow of the Pyramids mes
tied Byzatine tower and Grecian TEN
pie.
"An immense iceberg lay off the har
8 Dor, and had the measurement of it il
my note book, and sketch of it in m,
portfolio. The square wall which facet
toward my base of measurement was 81;
feet high, and fraction over three e-quarter
of mile long. The natives told me tina
it had been grounded for two years. Be
ing almost square-sided above the sea, tn,
same shape must have extended beneath
: it; and since, by measurement made twt
days before, had discovered that fresh
water ice floating in salt water has abov'
the surface to below it the proportion o
one to seven, this crystali.od piece o
| Er;c,s Gponol.v M hod stra uded in a dontI