| with Shell tips, Sharpened Bone, or Stone or pounded out Iron tips on the Harpoons. The eight man crews would maneuver until sometimes to three feet away from a surfaced Whale. Then they thrust with the Harpoon. What followed was what the New England American Whalers Called a "Nantucket Sleigh Ride." The whale would "Sound", diving deep towing the long cable of twisted root rope with the Sealskin Inflated Bladders attached with it, then surface and tow them for miles and days in like manner. This might continue for three to four days before the whale succumbed to exhaustion , then the crews could paddle back to their villages----and sometimes they were well out of the sight of land ; They depended on experience as great Sailors to get home. Carving is 22 inches by 25 inches and colored by Water Color paints soaked in as stain. This carving has been donated to The Native American Youth and Family Center, Portland, Oregon (NAYA). The Center may be able to obtain the equipment (benches, band saw and hand carving tools) so I can teach the Youth to carve. They would need sponsors for this program. If you like my work and would be interested in helping make this happen email Nicole Maher (nicholem@nayapdx.org), mention you are writing about the Project for Art McKellips to Teach the Youth Carving. |
