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Kayak mittens: maattaalit
These mittens each had two thumbs, for a good reason. The Inuit of East Greenland drove their kayaks forward by means of a paddle, consisting of a shaft with a blade on each side. When the hunter paddled, each blade disappeared under the water, in turn. The hunter's mittens, which protected him against cold and damp, became wet on the palm because the water thrown up by the paddle trickled down the shaft. A wet leather mitten was heavy and cold, and in order to avoid this problem, each mitten was given two thumbs which could be used alternately. When the mitten was turned, the wet side came uppermost, and had the chance to dry out. Of course, the water on the mitten froze, but the thin layer of ice could easily be knocked off. The kayak mitten was still in use up to quite recent times. The invention and manufacture of such functional articles of clothing required a high degree of creativity. The leather whaling suit was equally functional and inventive. | |
