The times., 1901-06-16
CANOES OF THE INDIANS
Pine Bark Constructions Of Ameri-
can AbOYigines.

Ancient Crafts on the Rivers of Che
Western Continent - safe when
Properly Managed - Not Yet Al
together Beyond Practical Use.
Among the series Of models TO illustrate
the history OF navigation gathered IN the
National Museum there is one OF canoe
secured a long time ago by George GihpS-
and numbered 6n in the anthropologicai
catalogue.
.The model in question" said Prof.
OTIS T. Mason. Curator of the Division of
F+brologv. is not of birch bark. but of
nine bark. laid on with the inner or
smooth side out. The canoes of this type
are all pointed like a monitor. at either
end on or below the water line; that is,
they are longest on the line Of the keel
When new they seem to be straight along
this lire but. from being loaded in the
middle. they SAG afterward, and the
pointed ends get turned up through strik-
ing the shore in landing.
"A glance at a large collection of Amer
lean Indian water craft throughout both
continents reveals the fact that this
pointed type is unique for the Western
Hemisphere. In the North and East the
birrb bark canoes prevail and farther
West the dugout is universal. and as
sumes often large size and graceful out
line. But every example of skin boat bark
canoe and du-outs on the Western Hemi-
sphere. excepting the Kutenai canoe, is
longer on ton and narrower at the bot
tom. or what would be the keel if any
were present. In a few local forms of
Canadian bark canoes there is sugges-
tion of a chin at the ends. Further eX-
animation into the water craft of North
and South America fails to reveal any
such form as that of the Kutenai canoe.
The bark boats or 'woodskins of the
Amazon and its afiiuents and the Orinoco
have no such features.
As result of a special investigation
to determine the distribution and hand
ling of these pinc-bark canoes, the fol-
lowing interesting facts We're elected by
Mr. Meriden 5. Hill, Secretary of the
Tacoma Academy of Sciences, of Wash
ington:
o. The pine-bark canoe. pointed at both
ends below water. is used in only a cir
cumscribed area on the Kootenai River,
and on the Columbia at the mouth Of the
Kootenai In order to make sure of this.
IN extensive correspondence was con-
Quoted with missionaries and others
who have spent years on the K0otenai
and the Upper Columbia, with the result
that this species Of craft was determined
to he unique. "
The Kutenai bark canoes are thus de-
scribcd by Mr. D N. Mclaughlin: The
pine bark is cut from the tree in the
length required. The gUnwales are pre-
pared by splitting three pieces Of cedar
wood from a stem three to four inches in
diameter, one OF them a half cylinder
vide the other two in quarters. placing
them about and above the margin of the
bark and lashing all fast with band OF
the bark Of the vine maple. After this
is finished the ribs. made Of the same
vine maple wood, split into the required
lengths, are forced in between the gun
wales Thin cedar boards are then
pushed between these ribs and the bark
of the canoe. The ends of the thwarts
are forced in between the three pieces of
cedar wood. forming the gunwales.
closing or opening the canoe as required.
These thwarts are then securely bound
with the vine maple so as to keep as
stiff and solid, especially the middle one.
since that has TO bear The greatest
strain" MI Mclaughlin says that the
canoes, in spite of their fraiIty. can
stand an extraordinary amount Of storm
and wave when well managed. He is
sure that when the canoes are first fin
ished they are straight as an arrow along
the bottom
After one has been used awhile the ends
turn up more OF less according 10 the
weight put into them The Indians. after
using one. take it out of the water to d-y
and this has a tendency 10 turn up the
points
The Rev Joseph ". Caruana. S J..
gives the following general measurements
OF the pointed canoe in use among the
Lakes OF Snaichi5ti Indians in Stevens
County. Washington: Length. twenty-four
feet; width, four feet; depth, two and a
half feet; paddle. six feet; poles used
perDCudicularly iE strong currents. six
feet. mat in bottom TO kneel on while
padding. three by four feet. The same
writer says that IL 1862 pointed canoes
were ia great use among the Spokane and
Coeur d'AIene tribes. as well as the Col
Vile. or Ssoyelpy, and KalispeL He cross
ed many a river on such bark canoes,
while living among the Coeur d'Alene or
Szchizne Indians. These canoes held two
persons with luggage. The bottoms were
fat and the ends somewhat turned up.
They were fragile and swift The Indians
had no tradition and could give no ac-
count Of their origin. The canoes exam
ined by Father Caruana had ribs Of white
cedar, very light and pliabIe and bound
TO the horizontal framework with split
cedar roots or willow twigs. The ribs are
pointed at the top and do not reach the
gEuwale but are forced through the bark
and covered in. The chinks are well pitch
ed, especially at the two ends
a COLONEL AND HIS GUN.