To pick up a canoe and carry it requires not only the knack but also muscle, and no undeveloped boy should make the attempt, as he might strain himself, with serious results. But there are plenty of young men—good, husky fellows—who can learn to do this without any danger of injury if they are taught how to lift by a competent physical instructor.
To pick up a canoe for a "carry," stoop over and grasp the middle brace with the right arm extended, and a short hold with the left hand, as shown in [Fig. 105].
When you have a secure hold, hoist the canoe up on your legs, as shown in [Fig. 106]. Without stopping the motion give her another boost, until you have the canoe with the upper side above your head, as in [Fig. 107]. In the diagram the paddles are not spread apart as far as they should be. If the paddles are too close together a fall may break ones neck.
Fig. 110.—Northern Quebec Indians crossing the "ladder portage."
Now turn the canoe over your head and slide your head between the paddles (which are lashed to the spreaders, as shown in [Fig. 105]), and twist your body around as you let the canoe settle down over your head ([Fig. 108]). If you have a sweater or a coat, it will help your shoulders by making a roll of it to serve as a pad under the paddles, as in [Fig. 109]. I have seen an Indian carry a canoe in this manner on a dog-trot over a five-mile portage without resting. I also have seen Indians carry canoes over mountains, crossing by the celebrated Ladder Portage in western Quebec, where the only means of scaling a cliff is by ascending a ladder made of notched logs. For real canoe work it is necessary that a man should know how to carry his craft across country from one body of water to another. All through the Lakelands of Canada, and also the Lake St. John district, up to Hudson Bay itself, the only trails are by water, with portage across from one stream or lake to the other.