GRAPHIC ART OF THE ESKIMOS. 845 



tbe right is seated one of the household (Ko. 13) employed iii stirring 

 some food in a kettle. The smoke (No. 14) is rising- to a considerable 

 height, and another pot or kettle is seen to the right. The native 

 shown in No. 15 is greatly excited, having both hands, with extended 

 fingers, thrown upward, the cause being seeu in an old man drag- 

 gin'g- ashore a walrus, which is being harpooned by No. 17. The old 

 age'^of the native (No. W) is indicated by his walking with a staff, this 

 m'ethod of portraying an old person being common in many i)()rtions 

 of the world, the Egyptian hieroglyphs abounding in characters 

 abnost identical to the one here shown. The walrus (No. 19) is also 

 shown as having been captured, the native in No- 21 having con- 

 siderable dimculty in dragging it ashore, as he is down on one knee 

 tugging at the harpoon line, while a companion is observed near him 

 (No. 22), aiding him. 



Fig. 20 is the outline of a doe, which was also secured. No. 23 denotes 

 a dog, while Nos. 21 and 25 indicate two other natives. 



An excellent illustration of the different methods of portraying canoes 

 and houses is given in plate 60, seventh line, the whole scene denoting 

 a native village situated near the water. Upon the canoe (No. 21) is a 

 " shaman stick," or votive offering, erected to the memory of the one 

 who owned the scaffold, and perhaps canoe as well. Another offering 

 of similar purport is erected upon the roof of the house No. 10. One 

 showing the same fan-like top will be found in connection with mortuary 



customs. 



At No. 1 the native is putting away something resembling a pole, 

 while at No. G the two men seem to be engaged in conversation con- 

 cerning the canoe, the one nearest to it having his right hand pointing 

 toward or touching it. 



The winter habitations, with their entrances, are portrayed in a 

 manner different from the usual custom. The entrance is very pro- 

 jecting, and apparently overhanging. 



Smoke is seen issuing from the apex, chimney, or funnel containing 

 a smoke hole, on the house No. 12. A food scaffold, known by the vertical 

 poles projecting considerably above the transverse body, is shown in 

 No. 13, while beyond Is what appears to be another scaffold. The 

 erosion to which the ivory has been subjected has obliterated all other 

 parts of the figure. 



A very common figure is that resembling an oblong box placed upon 

 upright poles, in reality a scaffold, upon which is built a storehouse for 

 the protection against noxious animals. These figures are usually 

 placed near the representation of the dome-shaped winter habitation, 

 as each family has such a storehouse. 



Other scaffold-like structures also occur, and frequently the kaiak or 

 umiak, placed upon the scaffold for drying, may be mistaken for one of 

 these, wdiich, in reality, are the resting place of some human body. 

 This practice is not common everywhere, however. 



