Page:Narrative of the extraordinary adventures of four Russian sailors (2).pdf/17

 foxes in plenty, that had hitherto served them for bedding, and which they now thought of employing in some more essential service ; but the question was, how to tan them. After deliberating on this subject, they took to the following method : they soaked the skins for several days in fresh water, till they could pull off the hair pretty easily ; they then rubbed the wet leather with their hands till it was nearly dry when they spread some melted rein deer fat over it, and again rubbed it well. By this process the leather became soft, pliant and suple, proper for answering every purpose they wanted it for. Those skins which they designed for furs they only soaked for one day, to prepair them for being wrought, and then proceeded in the manner before mentioned, except only that they did not remove the hair. Thus they soon provided themselves with the necessary materials for all the parts of dress they wanted.

They made a curious needle out of a piece of wire ; and the sinews of the bear and rein-deer, which they split