The Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North AmericaChapelle, Howard Irving
History
The Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America
Chapelle, Howard Irving
Canoes and canoeing -- North America; Indians of North America -- Boats; Skin boats -- North America
Both of the above methods of rescue were completed with the capsized
victim still in his craft. This prevented his kayak from swamping and
also protected him from exposure, since his waterproof kayak jacket
remained tied to the cockpit hoop. Little detailed information has
been recorded on the methods of rolling known outside of Greenland,
but there are many photographs of Bering Strait kayakers rolling with
the single bladed paddle. A study of Alaskan rolling methods is now in
progress, and it is hoped that much information can be recovered and
preserved.
[Illustration: Figure 219
PREPARING FOR DEMONSTRATION. Jonas Malakiasen puts on his tuvilik (a
waterproof kayak jacket, pronounced in English "tooey-leek"). When
it is fastened tightly about his face, wrists, and the cockpit hoop,
he can capsize without getting water in the kayak. Igdlorssuit, West
Greenland, summer 1959. (_Photo by Kenneth Taylor._)]
[Illustration: Figure 220
GETTING ABOARD. Enoch Nielsen, best kayak roller in the village of
Igdlorssuit, West Greenland, wriggles into his kayak on the beach
before embarking on a kayak rolling exhibition. Note that he is leaving
the harpoon line stand and gun bag in place. (_Photo by Kenneth
Taylor._)]
[Illustration: Figure 221
PAUSING ON SURFACE. Kayaker supports himself on the surface of the
water by a sculling stroke before starting the roll. Note that Enoch
Nielsen's body is twisted so that his shoulders are parallel with the
surface, thus submerging as much of the body as possible in order to
gain buoyancy. (_Photo by Kenneth Taylor._)]
[Illustration: Figure 222
FULLY CAPSIZED, view from forward quarter, looking aft. Enoch Nielsen
prepares to roll up by the standard method. Note the planing angle of
his paddle blade as he prepares for the next step, the planing sweep of
the blade across the surface. (_Photo by Kenneth Taylor._)]
[Illustration: Figure 223
EMERGING FROM ROLL, view from forward quarter, looking aft. From the
position of Enoch Nielsen's hands, this appears to be the standard
roll. He has just completed the planing sweep and is halfway up. The
inboard hand is a pivot point for the sweep and a fulcrum for the lift.
(_Photo by Kenneth Taylor._)]
[Illustration: Figure 224
RIGHTING THE KAYAK. Enoch Nielsen emerges from roll with a final
downward thrust of the paddle blade. (_Photo by Kenneth Taylor._)]
_Bibliography_
ADNEY, EDWIN TAPPAN. _Klondike stampede._ New York: Harper & Bros.,
1900.
----. How an Indian birch-bark canoe is made. _Harper's Young
People_ (July 29, 1890). Supplement.
BEARD, DANIEL CARTER. _Boatbuilding and boating._ New York: C.
Scribner's Sons, 1911. (Chapter 6, pages 48-61, is a revision of
Adney's articles on canoe building.)
BEAUCHAMP, WILLIAM M. Aboriginal use of wood in New York. (New York
State Museum Bulletin 89.) Albany, 1905, pp. 139-149.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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