ABORIGINAL AMERICAN HARPOONS. 'J 59 



run.s along the whole length of the wood, each end passing through a 

 hole in the ivorv, and the bight secured in several })la('es to the staff. 



A considerable degree of ingenuity is displayed in an appendage 

 called '\siatko," consisting of a piece of bone 3 inches long, having a 

 point of iron at one end and at the other a small hole or socket to 

 receive the point of the oonak. Through the middle of this instrument 

 is secured the allek, or line of thong, of which every man has, when 

 sealing, a couple of coils, each from 4 to 6 fathoms long, hanging at 

 his back. These are made of the skin of the oguke, as in Greenland, 

 and are admirably adapted to the purpose, both on account of strength 

 and the propert}^ which they possess of preserving their pliability even 

 in the most intense frost.' 



Formerly the harpoon (unang, Boas) consisted of a shaft having at 

 one end an ivory point tirmly attached by thongs and rivets, the point 

 tapering toward the end. The point was slanting on one side, so as 

 to form almost an oblique cone. Thus it facilitated the separation of 

 the harpoon head from the unang. On the opposite end of the shaft 

 another piece of ivory was attached, generally forming a knob. The 

 material used in making the shaft was wood, bone, or ivory, according 

 to the region in which it was manufactured. In Iglulik and in Aggo 

 the narwhal's horn was the favorite material for the whole implement, 

 a single horn being sufficient to make a whole shaft. Wherever wood 

 could be procured small pieces were ingeniously lashed together. As 

 the shaft is apt to be broken by the struggles of the animal when 

 struck by the weapon, it was strengthened by a stout thong running 

 along the whole length of the shaft. '^ 



A strange method of hunting is reported b}- Ross" as practiced by 

 the Netchillirmiut. Eight men slowly approached the basking seal 

 until it raised its head, when those in front stopped and shouted as 

 loud as they could, on which three others ran up with incredible 

 swiftness, and the leader struck it with the spear. ^ 



Boas says thai when the smaller bays are sufficiently frozen to 

 permit, the hunters will visit the edge of the newly formed floe in 

 order to shoot the seals, which are afterwards secured by the retriev- 

 ing harpoon.* 



A fine old toggle head (Cat. No. 8278) from Smith Sound, was collected 

 by Dr. I. I. Hayes, The body is of ivory, thin, spatulate in form, 

 and lenticular in cross section. The blade of iron is almost concealed 

 in a deep saw cut and fastened with an iron rivet. The line hole has 

 been bored out with a drill that was too small and enlarged by cutting. 

 One side of the bod}- having split off, and the other side cracked, the 



^ Parry, Second Voyage, London, 1824, p. 507. 

 ^Narrative, etc., London, 1835, II, p. 451. 

 'Sixth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, p. 485. 



* Compare Murdoch's account of the retrieving harpoon. Sixth Annual Report of 

 the Bureau of Ethnology, p. 420. 



