740 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1897. 



Example Cat. No. 12997G, in the U. S. National Museum, is a wood 

 carver's knife from the Kwakiutl Indians of Fort Rui)ert, British 

 Columbia (fig. 13), collected by Mr. James G. Swan, and forms a tran- 

 sition between old art and European art. The blade 

 is that of a modern jackknife set into the end of an 

 oak handle and held firm by a ferrule of sheet brass 

 nailed on. Here are united in a single Joint the most 

 primitive and most persistent connective, namely, a 

 tang driven into tlie grain of the handle at the work- 

 ing end and metal ferrule, the latest form of bond. 

 The handle is slightly curved, and bears on its end 

 and surface a carving of a totemic animal's head and 

 fins. Length, 8^ inches. 



Example Cat. No. 129978, in the U. S. National 

 Museum, is a similar knife, with jackknife blade in a 

 very plain handle without carving (fig. 14). To form 

 the joint the inner end of the 

 handle has a saw-cut made 

 across, into which the tang of 

 the blade is set and made fast 

 by a wire driven through the 

 hinge hole. Stovepipe wire is 

 wrapped about the joint, and 

 a wedge of wood and one of 

 iron driven in between the 

 edges of the tang and the wire. 

 Outside the wire is a wrapping 

 of cotton rag to protect the 

 hand. This example shows 

 that there is plasticity even in 

 the savage mind. The elements 

 of this old form have been 

 nearly all patented inventions. 

 Example Oat. No. 129977, in the U. S. Na- 

 tional Museum, is a curved knife of the Fort 

 liupert or Kwakiutl Indians (fig. 15), collected 

 by Mr. James G. Swan. It consists of a blade 

 bent up at the top, beveled only on the upper 

 side, and by its shank lashed to a shouldered 

 cut on the handle. The handle is of oak and is 

 also curved. The two parts are held together 

 by a seizing of twine, and outside of this a wrap- 

 ping of blue cloth. Length of handle, 8 inches. 



Example Cat. No. 150715, in the U. S. National Museum, is a curved 

 knife of the Ainos of Yo/o (fig. IG), collected by Mr. K. Hitchcock. The 

 tang of the blade of iron is driven mto a \\ooden handle, which is 



Fig. 15. 

 CDRVED KNIFE. 



Fort Rupert IndiaiiH. 



Cat. No. 12S977, U.S.N. M. 



Fig. 16. 



CAKVEB S KNIVES. 



From the Ainos. 



Cat. No. l.'.nil.'i, U.S.N.M. 



