ETPINOLOGY. 37 



ble iron supply. ISTo. 8 is bone-tipped. I could not learn why the point 

 should be so bent, but many had theui so, and eveft preferred it. All 

 their arrows were lashed with hnely separated deer sinews. The feather- 

 vanes were nearly always made from the primaries of Strix scandiaca or 

 Graeulus carlo. The arrows were all short ; in fact, their length depended 

 somewhat on the wood supplj'. We were unable to find but a single 

 specimen of flint arrow-heads in the graves. 



The bow is made from reindeer antlers ; these are split, nsing only 

 one of the halves in the construction of the bow. It is always made in 

 three pieces, ingeniously lashed together. On the back of the bow are 

 three or more strings, made like the bow-string; these are fastened at 

 both ends of the bow, and also securely at the middle of the back. This 

 of course gives additional strength to the affair, and is a convenient 

 place to carry an extra string. The bows are very short, often not more 

 than thirty inches. Not every Eskimo is able to manufacture his own 

 bow; but each encampment has generally at least one skilled mechanic, 

 who supplies the rest. 



Bows and arrows were principally used in the capture of the reindeer^ 

 hare, and birds, seldom seals. These bows are surprisingly elastic, and 

 the Eskimo are able to use them with wonderful dexterity. In shooting 

 this weapon, the string is placed on the first joint of the first and second 

 fingers of the right hand. 



Another Eskimo implement fast going ont of use is the laMvak^ or 

 salmon spear. A glance at the figure will give a better idea of this in- 

 strument than we can exi)ress in words. The two outside tines are each 

 about seven inches in length, and are made of reindeer antlers. Near 

 the tip and curving inward is a tooth-like prong about one and three- 

 fourths inches in length. The points of these teeth come to the end of 

 the middle tine, which is about six inches in length, perfe'ctly straight, 

 and made from walrus ivory. The three tines are securely lashed to a 

 piece of the jaw-bone of the whale, of varying length, sometimes only a 

 foot, but often two or three feet. When the bone shaft is too short to 

 use, they generally have a short wooden handle lashed to it to make it 

 the desired length. The two outside tines of this spear arc very elastic, 

 and spring out when a fish is struck, but close again when the body of 

 • the fish has passed beyond the tooth points which project inward. It 

 is thus impossible for it to escape, the central tine having entered the 

 body. 



Another instrument, generally used in connection with the TcaUvaJc, is 



