The Indian-tump line or head strap is the pack carrier par excellence
for the transportation of heavy loads. Such a load hangs entirely from
the head of the carrier and not from the shoulders. It consists of a
head band of rather stiff leather about two and a half inches in width
by two feet in length. To each end of this is attached a strap or thong
of similar kind of leather eight to ten feet long but only an inch in
width tapering to a still lesser width at the ends and fixed to the head
band by buckles.
To make up the tump line pack proceed as follows:--the blanket or
shelter cloth is spread out and the thongs laid lengthwise about a foot
from either edge--the blanket is then folded inward and across the
thongs. The items to be carried are then laid on the end of the blanket
well up toward the head piece. The other end of the blanket, from the
folds of which the thong ends are protruding, is pulled taut, tied
together and passed around the middle of the pack. The knack of
comfortable tump line carrying, once the neck muscles are developed and
hardened, is in properly balancing the pack.
The load is lifted to the back, the strap passing across the head high
up on the forehead and not on top of the head as might be supposed. The
load must properly fall in position on the back or discomfort will
certainly result with a corresponding decrease of carrying ability. It
should fit well in the small of the back, just above the hips. The
method is very tiresome to the uninitiated because of the strain on the
neck and head but one soon becomes accustomed to it.
The tump line or head strap is the one to use if the pack amounts to
much above thirty pounds. Indians are thus able to carry loads of
several hundred pounds on short portages but when the outfit can be
arranged into several seventy pound packs the woodsman prefers to thus
break it up and make several trips. With the tump line one can carry
goods of most any bulk and shape. The strap has many other uses about
camp.
The pack carriers which are suspended from the shoulders are fitted with
loops through which the arms are thrust and which are connected behind
to the load with either a set of harness intended to be buckled around
any sort of camp duffle or riveted and sewn to a sack or basket. Fifty
pounds is about the limit of the pack which one with experience can
comfortably carry suspended from the shoulders. Breast straps are
required for use with all types of shoulder harness to fasten the arm
loops together in front or they promptly slip off. In case of accident
in the water they are disengaged with difficulty.
[Illustration: PACK HARNESS]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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