REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 33 



broad horns of the Eocky Mountain sheep, wooden bowls, ladles, platters, 

 cups, and trays ; bags and haversacks made of seal or fish skin, of all 

 sizes, universally used by the Esquimaux for keeping* provisions and other 

 materials; also earthenware lamps, firebars with flint, steel, and tinder; 

 tobacco pouches, pipes, and snuff-boxes. The articles made of seal-skin 

 on the coast are imitated farther up the river in the skins of the larger 

 fishes, the intercourse between the localities being difficult since the pass- 

 es are held by a few trading Indians, who act as middle men in exchanging 

 commodities and as guards to prevent access to the coast. From the 

 Unaleets there are neatly-made housewives of fish-skin, and from the 

 Pastolic Esquimaux a small workbag woven of grass, ivory needle cases 

 ornamented with blue beads, and a store of thread made of filaments of 

 dried sinews. The weapons received are interesting illustrations of the 

 character and habits of the people. The bows in this collection, used 

 by the Esquimaux for killing large birds or fish, are of very un- 

 usual weight, and many of the arrows employed in shooting 

 the wild goose are tipped with a blunt knob. The sharp arrow- 

 points are the most beautiful and delicate of any we have seen, and are^ 

 of obsidian, green jasper, or glass. The seal and fish lines are of the 

 long, flexible stems of a fucus which grows in deep water and equals 

 whalebone in tenacity and toughness. The harpoons for striking seals 

 are furnished with a horn or bone termination, carrying a barbed jioint, 

 the whole being detachable from the shaft. From the Ekogmut there 

 are several of these, with others used in killing the whale f also models 

 of canoes, oars, &c., from the Lower Ingaleeks along the Yukon and the 

 Unaleets on the coast. In the way of personal ornament there are a 

 quantity of red paint and a yoke, or necklace, oval pieces of wood or 

 stone to be inserted in a slit in the lower lip, the nose, or the ear; fin- 

 ger-rings, principally of stone, of two kinds, one of which is used on 

 mourning and the other on ordinary occasions. 



Aleutian Islands. — From the Aleutian Islands there are in Mr. Dall's 

 collection several hideous masks of gigantic dimensions used in the 

 ceremonies of the people. Dr. T. T. Minor, surgeon United States rev- 

 enue steamer Wayanda, Captain Howard, commander, who visited 

 Sitka, Kodiak, Unalaska and some points of the Aleutian group, has 

 furnished collections exhibiting the dress, occupations, and habits of the 

 Coloshes, Nuhegags, and Aleutes. The scarcity of stone implements in 

 this collection is worthy of notice, since but two specimens, a pestle and 

 axe, are all that were found, and these were regarded as very ancient. 

 Among the articles are the following : Heavy corded bows for fishing, 

 armed with three prongs; blunt spears, with barbs, and fish spears 

 ornamented with feathers ; lines of sea-weed or kelp, with detachable 

 spear-heads; throwing-sticks, to give a longer leverage in projecting the 

 spear. Thereare also chisels for making apertures in the ice, to which fish' 

 resort for air; dog sledges, canoes, paddles, reindeer skin overcoats and, 

 boots ; an overall perfectly waterproof, and exceedingly light, made 

 3s 



