The  oars  are  held  in  place  usually  by  means  of  a  rawhide  lashing
made  fast,  on  the  inside  of  the  boat,  to  the  framework.  The  steering
is  always  done  with  a  large,  broad-blade  paddle.
In  an(!ient  times  sails  sometimes  were  improvised  by  sewing  together
grass  mats  and  putting  them  up  between  two  long  sticks,  which  were
fastened  to  the  framework  of  the  umiak  and  stayed  by  means  of  cords
so  as  to  extend  upward  and  outward  in  V-shape  form,  one  from  each
side  of  the  boat.  Later,  after  the  arrival  of  white  men,  a  single  upright
mast  with  stays  and  with  blocks  made  from  bonej)r  ivory,  were  adopted
in  imitation  of  the  rigging  used  on  the  ships  of  the  strangers.
Sails  were  next  made  from  the  skins  of  reindeer  or  other  animals,
sewed  to  a  proper  size  and  shape  and  fastened  to  a,^ard,  which  was
raised  or  lowered  by  tackle  made  of  walrus-hide  cord  passed  through
an  ivory  or  bone  block  or  through  a  hole  in  the  upper  end  of  the  mast.
