204 



KKPOKT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1900. 



straightens up the loose shaft. This brings all taut for the stroke. 

 As soon as the game is struck the shaft is pulled to one side b}' the 

 movenuMits of the animal, the loose shaft comes out of its socket and 

 detaches itself from the toggle head. This enables the hunter to pull 

 awa}' his shaft easily and instantly. 



Foresiiaff. — The foreshaft of a harpoon is the working end of the 

 shaft, and is usually ;i 1>lock of l)one or ivor}^ neatly fitted on. Fore- 

 shafts var}^ in material, being of 

 antler, bone, ivory, or metal; in size 

 and shape, from the delicate front 

 of the sea-otter harpoon to the 

 chmisy variety on the Greenland 

 whaling harpoon; in the mode of 

 attachment to the shaft, in the 

 socket, and lashing for the loose 

 shaft (see Plates 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 

 and 18). 



Shaft. — The shaft of the har- 

 poon is of wood; in treeless areas, 

 of driftwood, but in the north Pa- 

 cific it is a long, slender pole of 

 cedar. For the purpose of studj'^, 

 shafts have to be considered in 

 relation to materials, shapes, and 

 sizes; to hand stops or rests for 

 thrusting; to line pegs, throwing 

 stick pegs, assembling line, etc. 

 For catching sea-otter the dart 

 shaft is half an inch in diameter 

 and -1 feet long, while some of the 

 clumsy Greenland examples are 2 

 or 3 inches in diameter, and the 

 east Greenland deep-water variety 

 and sled variety for killing on the 

 ice at a distance have shafts manj^ 

 feet in length, requiring two men 

 to work them. 



The shaft has the double function 

 of stabbing and retrieving. For the former (1) it may be thrust at the 

 victim, in which case, in order to give a firmer grasp, a projecting 

 piece of wood or bone or ivory is fastened near the center of gravity 

 to stop the hand. Near this is frequently found a peg, over which is 

 hooked the line to hold the head firmly on to the loose shaft. (2) It 

 may be thrown as a javelin from the hands. (3) It may be hurled 

 from a throwing stick. This method will be more fully described in a 



LOOSE SHAFTS OF TOGGLE IIAHI'OONS. 



Cumberland Sound. 



Collected by Ludwig Kumllenand Lucieii TnriK 

 Cat. Nos. 90165, 2991, 34098, 3406:i. 

 After Franz Boas. 



