foot is fastened by means of straps to the front and sides. The
framework can be of light willow or strong rattan. The meshes should
be closer than in a racket, and the best are made of water-proofed
rawhide.

It requires much practice to become expert in the use of the snow
shoe; but once the skill is acquired, twice the distance, over soft
snow, can be made in the day, as compared with the average foot man on
ordinary ground.

Without snow shoes, winter travel would be well nigh impossible over
large areas of British North America. We are indebted to the Indians
for this valuable aid to locomotion.

SKIING

pronounced in Norwegian "sheeting"--is the great winter sport of the
Norwegians and Swedes. The sport is fast being introduced into this
country and is gaining in popularity in every place where the two
requisites--snow and a long, steep hill--can be had.

The ski is a strip of ash or spruce wood, turned up in front like a
sled runner, and smooth and straight grained. The length varies from
six to ten feet, the width from three to four inches, and the
thickness from. a third to three-fourths of an inch.

The strap, attached by screws to the middle of the ski, is fastened
over the toe part of the foot, leaving the heel free to rise and fall.

Skies are hard to manage going up hill, but on a level of soft snow a