Date: Fri, 17 Mar 1995 16:04:05 -0800 (PST)
From: David White <dwhite@u.washington.edu>
To: baidarka@imagelan.com
Subject: Re: Traditional Paddles, Late Entry
In-Reply-To: <199503152353.SAA10582@postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Message-Id: <Pine.A32.3.91c.950317154350.77475A-100000@mead1.u.washington.edu>
On Wed, 15 Mar 1995, Paul W Hazel wrote:
> Sorry I missed the beginning of this thread;
>
> With respect to traditional blades being unfeathered, if the native peoples
> could bend ribs, they certainly could have soaked and twisted a paddle.
> Would it maintain its shape after repeated soakings and drying out? I don't
> know but I doubt it - at least not without some sort of wood sealant.
>
Here's something that I can actually contribute. :)
Coastal natives made wooden fishing hooks that they steamed and bent into
shape in the traditional manner, but they were made to keep their shapes
by being fire-hardened after the initial drying. An application of deer
tallow, I imagine as a sealant, was made while the hooks were still warm.
Apparently this was pretty successful as some of these hooks have very
dramatic curves to them.
It seems to me that a similar thing could have been done with paddle
shafts, etc., if they had wanted to.
Not a lot of significance here, just thought it would be interesting.
-----------------------------
David White
mail: dwhite@u.washington.edu
Dept. of Oceanography
University of Washington
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