Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-11-24
THE GREENLAND KAYAK.
Fraii Craft and What Can De Done
with Them.

tions of atural forces to human use
which have ever been made. 1t Is q
logical but most Ingenious evolution
from the birch-bark canoe of the
northern Indian tribes of America.
The various stages of development,
from the light and open canoe of tho
northwestern tribes to the closed and
water-tight shell of the complete
kayak of Greenland, can readily be
traced around the shores of Alaska
and British America.
The kayak consists of q frame Of
wood or bone, fifteen or twenty feet
long, pointed at both ends, and about
two and half feet wide and deep in
the middle-all so light that boy Of
twelve can take it under his arm and
carry it without effort. Over the
frame there is tightly stretched and
closely sewed u covering Of tanned
sealskn which is impervious to water.
In the middle of the top there is u
hole just large enough to permit tho
owner to insert his body so that he
can sit on the bottom and stretch
his legs out In front OF him. A seal
skin coat with hood for the head
and rim for close-fitting attach.
ment to corresponding rim round
the aperture into the kayak, COM
plete the protection from water. Sit
ting bolt up light in this position, with
double paddle, faring ut both ends,
the native who Is ito the manner
born" can defy the winds and waves
which swamp an ordinary boat.
The first sight Of a kayak In its ma.
tive waters is exciting in the extreme.
| 1t Is likely to be rs with us two weeks
ago, when lying of IN unknown har.
Dor waiting for pilot. The whistle
has been blown long and loud, the
cannon has been fired, and the rocket
discharged, and still no response from
shore. At length. when patience is
almost exhausted, there appear three
or four black specks on the top OF the
swells OF the ocean, how distant We
were little prepared to estimate. be-
cause OF the excessive clearness oil
the atmosphere. As they get nearer.
we begin to see curious motion.
somewhat resembling the arms Of n
windmill. These are the kayaks Will,
their several occupants striving to
outstrip each other In a race for thu
coveted job Of plotting the ship to
harbor. Already they are far ahead
of the larger boat which comes lag.
ging along In the distance. On reach
ing the ship, the most fortunate kay
aker unloosens his coat from the rim
Of his vessel, OF which he seems to form
n part, with much difficulty wriggles
himself clear from Its ENHANCEMENT,
and Is brought aboard. Those who
fell behind In the race, some OF
them, rest quietly like ducks upon
the water around the ship, only occa'
sionally dipping one end or other Of
their curious shaped paddles to resist
! the force Of an unusual wave, while
. others display their own skill and the
, capacity OF their kayaks by various
| man9uvres, which never foil to rs
, tonish spectators. Now one will per
l form q somsrsault, or series OF som
] ersaults, with his kayak, or again one
will dart forward like lightning al
. right angles to another and juml
v completely over tho bow OF 1t. But
unfortunate indeed IL the European
I who attempts any antics In or ever
. venture into kayak. To the native
2 the motions necessary to preserve
0 equilibrium are q second nature
which have been instructive from
r childhood. The adult who has no
already learned Its management hat
3 better not attempt to learn.
The kayak Is equipped with various
0 ingenious implements OF the chase
y First there Is the bird spear, consist
I ing OF a short handle of wood pointed
n with u short bono spear.head and {
/. circle OF barbed bone lance.head
o designed to give whirling motion t,
s the missile, and to insure the entan
i tanglement OF tho object ut which /
r Is thrown. Then there IL the har
n pooh for the seal, which Is SO ar
9 ranged with n joint that after tn
spcar-head has penetrated the ani
8 NAL 1t becomes detached from tn
shaft and Is connected with thon
J. In the hands Of the hunter. Thi
thong Is also attached to float, cor
h sisting OF the skin Of some large ani
]. NAL sewed together so as to be air
n tighs and inflated. This will foa
Q on the water and prevent the escap
d or sinking Of tho wounded animal
= Various kinds OF fshing.tackle ar
also natural attachments to tn
kayak, when fully equipped. In til
settlement where we were all thes
implements were OF native manuiac
ture.-(New York Post.