Types of canoes on Puget SoundWaterman, T. T. (Thomas Talbot)
History
Types of canoes on Puget Sound
Waterman, T. T. (Thomas Talbot)
Canoes and canoeing; Indians of North America -- Boats; Indians of North America -- History
The freight canoe differs in several respects from the foregoing. It
never reaches the great size which the first-mentioned type sometimes
attains, though specimens exist which are as much as 40 ft. in length.
The cutwater in this type is vertical, or nearly so. This is the point
mentioned by the Indian informants as the characteristic thing. The
Songish term for this craft, _sti´uwaitatl_, is translated by Boas as
“having a square bow.” I can find no reason for this peculiarity, nor
advantage in it. An extra piece of cedar is carved and fitted with
dowels on the prow of this craft also, “lifting” the lines of the hull
somewhat. This piece differs greatly from the pieces fitted on the
ocean-going canoe. The stern is modeled out of the original log. The tip
of the prow is shaped into a “notch” resembling an open mouth. This type
of canoe is used for journeys with household possessions in quiet
waters. In a storm it is not particularly safe.
_C._--THE “TROLLING CANOE” (_sd_Δ´χωι_L_)
This craft has a very narrow hull, and the bow has more lift than in the
preceding model.[15] Specimens of this type are usually relatively
small, designed to carry only two or three men. This was the vessel used
for hunting, for harpooning porpoise and otter, and in trolling for
fish. The model exhibits some elegance of design. We may perhaps follow
Boas in calling this craft the fishing or trolling canoe. A very large
canoe of this model was called _sdΔxwi´lūs_. For hunting
the porpoise a very swift canoe was needed, for the animal was alert,
and hard to harpoon. Boas gives a complete account of the pursuit, as
carried on by the Kwakiutl. The term for porpoise-hunting on Puget sound
is _ca´sab_. The canoe intended for this purpose was called
_casa´bhwlL_. It was of the type being discussed, but a fine, “clear”
model and had to be fast.
[Illustration: WATERMAN--CANOES
PL. V
INTERIOR VIEW OF THE HULL OF A SUQUAMISH “HUNTING CANOE” IN PROCESS OF
MANUFACTURE
Made by Jack Adams (Xa´bsus), near Suquamish, Washington, in March,
1920.
(Photograph by J. D. Leechman.)]
_D._--THE “SHOVEL-NOSE CANOE” (τ_L_´αι_)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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