GRAPHIC ART OF THE ESKIMOS. 751 



inability to compreheud the oral speech of surroundiug tribes. Other 

 gestures were peculiar to these natives because of the unique resources 

 of their peculiar environment; and others again Avere highly interest- 

 ing because of the concept being hidden in some old custom, shaman- 

 istic ceremonial, or individual practice of the j)erson having recourse 

 to a particular idea. 



In a number of the records will be observed outlines of the human 

 figure, with hands and arms, and sometimes the lower extremities, in 

 curious and apparently unnatural i)Ositions. Such portrayals are 

 attempts at illustrating gesture signs pictorially, and subjective ideas 

 are thus indicated — a step very much in advance of the ordinary sys- 

 tem of pictography as known to and practiced by most of the Indian 

 tribes. 



It is obvious, therefore, that in order to fully comprehend the inten- 

 tion of a pictographic record, it is necessary to know the artist's needs, 

 his environment and resources, his beliefs and shamanistic observ- 

 ances, and as much of the gesture language as may be obtainable. 



From a careful study of the pictographs of the several Indian tribes 

 and the numerous petroglyphs and painted records scattered over 

 various portions of the United States, it is safe to assert that a com- 

 parison of these with the various artistic materials of the Eskimo show 

 the latter to be vastly sui^erior to the preceding, especially in faithful 

 reproduction of animal forms and delicacy of artistic execution. 



The portrayal of the reindeer, in particular, serves as an illustration 

 of the manner in which the Eskimo are close observers as to anatomi- 

 cal peculiarities, as well as in catching the expression indicated in 

 various attitudes assumed by these animals in grazing, rising, running, 

 and in the positions assumed to denote alarm, fear. etc. 



In the portrayal of whales the Eskimo artist is also careful as to 

 si)ecific anatomical features. The peculiar elevation at the spout or 

 blowhole of the "bowhead" is especially indicated, and is character- 

 istic of the species, as that part of the mammal is used to raise and 

 keei:> open the elastic ''granular" salt ice for breathing holes or for 

 spouting. 



The smaller whale, designated also as the California gray, the "mus- 

 sel digger,'' or "devilfish," is likewise specifically indicated by a more 

 pointed head and sharp flukes, and I can only call attention to the 

 sharp flukes and conspicuous fins of the "killer" to illustrate the 

 result of observation given to it by the native artist in endeavoring 

 to show graphically the part which, to him, is a specific identification 

 of the animal. 



In a few illustrations the walrus is very carefully engraved, and 

 although the native result may appear uncouth and cumbersome, yet a 

 comparison of the etchings with the illustration of that animal will at 

 once serve to show strikingly careful imitation of the original subject. 

 As to the portrayal of various other animal forms, they are, generally, 



