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bow and a stern paddle as the case may be. the bow paddle is longer. and less ornamental than the stern. This then when the parts are all put together is the Ojibway canoe. and any one who has ridden in it for three hundred miles, across the quiet [?] of the lake. or [?landing?] along from billow to billow driven by the blast of a tempest where the sea around was white with breakers. and the clouds over head heavy with a driving rain. while overhead comes the forked tongue of lightning darted from the sky. accompanied with the most sublime peal of thunder with thin miles of such a master of energy [?] to [?] to a place of safety and this frail bark loaded with two human beings and a lot of camp outfit. bounding along now on the crest of a wave then in the trough of the sea. again trembling from stem to stern from the shock of a wave breaking over her. yet righting herself standing [?]. Or as in the rapid river when with the strike of the paddle the vessels clear water; such an one cannot refrain from singing the praise of the frail yet sturdy boat made of thin strips of wood and covered with a layer of cork scarcely a sixteenth of an inch thick.

However docile the canoe may be in the water and ready to carry the indian where his fancy dictates. the time comes when he must carry her.

Insert Ojibway Carrying Canoe & Portage Slats

In this case the canoe is lifted from the water (This canoe weighs about fifty Six pounds) and the paddles are stowed away between the thwarts. this is the blade is passed under the middle thwart and over the one next in front the handle resting on the one behind. To the middle thwart the Portage strap is attached. this strap is a broad thing about two inches wide. made of stout buckskin or Moose hide about four or five feet long with the ends split up into three tails. for the greater convenience of tying.. The Portage strap secured the canoe is turned bottom up. one end is lifted and the indian raising the gunnal on his head adjusts the band level of the portage strap on his forehead. and moving forward makes it taut. he then reaches a chip of wood or piece of bark or other material to prevent cutting of the throat and swinging the end down with the hands marches off with the canoe for a half mile tramp..if need be. The indian portages are usually