1052 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



THE LAMPS OF EASTERN SIBERIA. 



A full account of the Cliukchis lamps of eastern Siberia is given by 

 Baron Nordensliiold in liis "Voyage of the Vegay The method of 

 installation is shown on plate 17, fig. 2, taken from that work. 



The connection with Asia is one of a number which have been noticed 

 recently. 



Lamp. Excavated from soapstone, apparently with stone tools. The oriiijinal 

 surface of the stone shows in one place on the exterior. It is roughly hemi- 

 spherical. When resting on the rounded and insecure base the rim of the lamp 

 slants at an angle of about 37 degrees, the walls of the cavity being high at the 

 rear, running down and merging into the wick edge. The floor rises from the 

 middle toward the back and front. The bridge is divided into two equal sec- 

 tions by a V-shaped cut in the middle, the oil thus flowing to the wick through 

 three channels. The wick edge is slightly curving and wider than the back of 

 the lamp. Width, 6 J inches at wick edge; length to rear, 6 inches; height at 

 rear, 4| inches; front, li inches. Chukchis, eastern Siberia. Collected by E. 

 W. Nelson. 64222. Plate 17, fig. 1. 



THE LAMPS OF BRISTOL BAY. 



South of Norton Sound the lamp becomes a shallow saucer of baked 

 clay, rarely of stone, without wick edge, so that in absence of knowledge 

 of their use they never would be classed as lamps. As has been men- 

 tioned, they are affiliated with Asiatic saucer lamps. 



The number of specimens in the United States ISTational Museum from 

 the north shore of Bristol Bay has given this type its name. Perhaps 

 a more descriptive name would be lamp of the Yukon-Kuskokwim 

 tundra. 



These lamias are set up on a stake, having the top hollowed out to 

 receive the bulging bottom of the lamp. The wick is laid along a small 

 space on the edge, following the Kadiak method. It is not known 

 whether this lamp is ever furnished with a single solid wick or burned 

 with a floating wick. The former supposition seems to be borne out by 

 the model from Nushagak (fig. 1). 



The cooking pot of this region is circular, and designed for placing on 

 an open fire, as driftwood is plentiful. 



In the southern portion of this region an admixture of forms takes 

 place. The lamps are of stone, circular, but in nearly every case have 

 the wick edge worked out. A similar mixture of form occurs between 

 Kadiak, the Alaskan Peninsula, and Aleutian Chain. Four of these 

 lamps are shown on plate 20. 



Lamp. This is the smallest lamp among the series of pottery lamps in the Ignited 

 States National Museum. It apparently has been little used, probably for some 

 special purpose or as a toy. Eskimo, Cape Vancouver, Alaska. Collected by J. 

 H. Turner. 153703. Plate 18, fig. 1. 



Lamp. Of pottery, similar in form to typical Bristol Bay lamps. Diameter 3| 

 inches; height, 1/^ inches. Eskimo, Cax)e Vancouver, Alaska. Collected by J, 

 H. Turner. 153702. Plate 18, fig. 2. 



