The Portland daily press., 1891-11-13

are stronger and fercer. A team Is COM
posed OF six dogs, the strongest and most
spirited being selected as the leader. Next
t0.the leader follow two or three strong
dogs, while those weaker and more unman-
ageable are nearer the sledge. In a good
team the leader is the acknowledged master
OF the others and his authority Is almost
unlimited. Usually when the dogs are put
into strange team they will refuse to work,
and particularly II their own Is In sight they
Will turn back and endeavor to reach IL,
so great is their attachment TO their mas
ters.
"The komatic or slsdge Is made with two
runners from ten to twenty feet In length
and about ten feet apart. These are con-
nected by strips Of wood which are lasheG
tom Of the runners, which are shod with
ivory or whalebone, being slightly curved
and cut off at right angles behind. The
only means that native has for guiding a
team Is by whip, whichis composed of q
lash sixteen feet In length attached to
short wooden handle. The Eskimo be-
comes very expert In the use of his whip
and can cast the lash with as much accu-
racy as the cowboy on the plains can the
lasso or the Australian native the boone
rang.
"rhe principal occupation Of the Eskimo
consists in the hunting Of seals. Dlscoy-
ering seal hole he will patiently watch
before it the entire day If no game appears
sooner to reward his diligence. During
the spring and early autumn however, the
Eskimo hunt the seals In boats or kayaks.
These boats are built Of strips of wood
covered with sealskin. leaving an opening
In the centre Of the boat Just large enough
to admit the body Of the fisherman. At
his side he places his spears, fastening
them to the thongs stretched across the
kayak In front of him Is his roll Of line,
while behind him is a buoy made Of a
xxvh hnla oh In. sak L.. a.. l.
dated. His paddle has blades about three
or four inches wide at either end, which
are alternally dipped, the middle of the
paddle being grasped with both hands.
win this boat he travels very rapidly per-
maps nity or sixty miles during the day,
and with the oar he not only propels his
boat, but also understands how to right
himself In case the waves overturn the
skiff. The instrument used for killing the
seal Is spear about SIX feet In length, con-
sisting OF two parts, a wooden pole, and an
ivory point which Is fastened to the. pole
by thongs. The ivory point Is dull and
the thongs allow 1t to slip easily from the
pole. Attached to the end Of this ivory
head Is small spear point, made either OF
bone or ivory, to which Is fastened the
buoy. The line fastened to the buoy Is
generally about eight fathoms In length
and this line is slipped tightly over small
pole, holding the barb tightly to the ivory
when the spear Is cast, but quickly releas-
ing 1t when the object Is reached. The
buoy which the seal carries on towing the
line, is easily secured when the seal dies,
and fitting another barb and buoy to his
pole the Eskimo Is again ready for busi-
ness.
while at Hopedale some Of our party
suggested that we have the natives paddle
a kayak race, and also give an exhibition
of how ice-hOeS are l0veTcOme. According
ly we informed an English speaking Es-
kimO that we would give piece Of tobacco
to the man who should win the race. Two
men dressed In full costume entered as con-
testants for the prize aud soon the kayaks
were slaunehed and ready for the race.
The course was to be from the little wharf
to our vessel and return. At the signal
for starting the two boats shot with noise
less movements toward the vessel. The
return was very exciting and the skiffs
were keeping close together when with
swift motion Of the paddle the older and
more experienced OF the contestants pushed
the bow of his boat half length ahead Of
the other and the victory was his. After
this race an exhibition of shooting Ice
foes was given, which was greatly enjoyed
by the members Of our party. One Of the
kayaks remaining perfectly still, the other
drew off at right angles to a distance Of
about three hundred yards. when he began
to paddle his boat back again. Faster and
faster the paddles moved and nearer the
KAYAK drew towards the motionless boat
When at distance Of about ten feet Of the
supposed foe the Eskimo apparently
| straightened himself In his boat and with
| a quick movement Of his body caused 1t to
| Jump completely over the deck Of the
Othar ~