Page 23 - Frank Rosenow "Seagoing Knots"

Eskimo knot work, from its high point at the beginning of this century,
also displays a partiality to lashings and an even more developed sense of
how to use the characteristics of a line. These lines were precision work in

themselves, being cut in uniform strips from the skins of young barbed seal
or walrus. A soaking in urine gives them the right amount of pliability and
stretch.

'VOrt.y (TKJb <NOI5

| 5wJfW AKib
h<s«.poo<\)

In the drawing of a South Greenland kayak from around 1930, the
above detail shows the walrus tusk foreshaft of the harpoon. A socket in
the foot of it corresponds to a peg in the bone mounting plate of the har¬

poon. A baleen lashing holds the two together and there are no knots save
an overhand at the end. To make the harpoon tip, another bit of walrus
tusk is hollowed out to rest on the foreshaft. A tensioned seal thong holds
it in place and via the harpoon attaches with a bone toggle to the float.
The arrangement will keep a seal struck with the harpoon afloat.
The small lashings are often made using a deer sinew threaded on bird
or fish bone needles, resulting in a permanent seizing.

LINES AND LASHINGS