By
this contrivance, they lessen the weight of the child considerably, and
are able to walk many miles without showing signs of fatigue. It is also
much more pleasant and healthy for the child than to be uncomfortably
cramped up in its mother's arms, and shifted about from side to side, as
first one arm aches, and then the other.
"The Indian women sew some things with the roots of the tamarack, or
larch; such as coarse birch-baskets, hark canoes, and the covering of
their wigwams. They call this 'wah-tap' [Footnote: Asclepia parvilfora.]
(wood-thread), and they prepare it by pulling off the outer rind and
steeping it in water. It is the larger fibres which have the appearance of
small cordage when coiled up and fit for use. This 'wah-tap' is very
valuable to these poor Indians. There is also another plant, called Indian
hemp, which is a small shrubby kind of milk-weed, that grows on gravelly
islands. It bears white flowers, and the branches are long and slender;
under the bark there is a fine silky thread covering the wood; this is
tough, and can be twisted and spun into cloth. It is very white and fine,
and does not easily break. There are other plants of the same family, with
pods full of fine shining silk; but these are too brittle to spin into
thread.
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