TOBLER, TITUS (1806-77). A Swiss Oriental scholar. He was born at Stein, Canton of Appen zell, studied and practiced medicine, traveled in Palestine. and after taking part in the political affairs of Switzerland, settled in 1871 at Mu nich. His principal work is Topographic Jerusalem and seinen Umgebungen (1853-54), which was supplemented by Reitrag zit?. medi ziniscben Topographic roil Jerusalem (1855) ; Plgnoyrupbie run Jerusalem (1858); Dritte Wand( rang (ick Pahist Ma (1859) ; Bibliu graphia Grogrtrp!riett Palestina (ltili7). Consult his Life by Heim (Zurich, 1879).
TOBOGGAN(North American Indian otoba aask. mlobagan. sled). A vehicle used for coast ing, which differs from the ordinary coasting sled in that it has no runners beneath its flat surface. It seems to have been improvised by the Indian hunters, who used it to bring in their dead game over the snow. With them it was simply a strip of bark turned up at the front to facilitate its passage over rough ground and braced by strips or pieces of wood running both crosswise and along the edges. Among the
Eskimos it was made from strips of whale bone. It is of the same primitive pattern to-day, except that in some cases a light rail runs along its sides. For sporting purposes it is usually made of thin strips of ash, maple, or hickory, slightly oval on the bearing surface, placed side by side and fastened at the ends, the under sur face being highly polished. The ordinary tobog gan is about IS inches wide and 6 to S feet long. The usual number of occupants is four. One sits in front with his feet tinder the hood, two in the centre, and the steersman at the back. The latter sits crouching, one leg bent, the other stretched behind hiM to be used as a rudder, for which purpose his moccasin has a hard leather steering-tip. In some cities. especially Montreal, chutes are constructed for this sport. Great speed is attained on them; a distance of 900 yards has been traveled in 30 seconds. See