GRAPHIC ART OF THE ESKIMOS. 931 



indicate, as in other records, that the hunter was a very successful seal 

 hunter. Upon the opposite or convex side is a similar portrayal of 

 animal forms, thougii in this instance only one continuous row of 

 spouting whales occupies the base line, while along the upper line but 

 four of these animals liave been drawn, the remaining eight spaces 

 being blank. One edge of tins bow is very crudely but deeply incised 

 with strange looking tigures representing human beings with alligator 

 heads, armed with mandibles similar to those of huge birds. Several 

 mammalian forms are also represented, one or two being of mythic 

 import. Several kaiaks are also shown, the occupants being engaged 

 in walrus and seal hunting. 



Plate 21, fig. 1, is the back of the bow drill represented in plate 3, 

 fig. 1. Considerable interest is attached to this specimen from the fact 

 of the pronounced median lines extending from end to end, the various 

 objects between these and the outer margin being so arranged as to 

 form a very symmetrical and decorative figure. This approaches very 

 nearly one variety of decoration practiced by the Papuans, and referred 

 to by Mr. Alfred C. Iladdon.^ 



The specimen is inverted and the interpretation begins at the first 

 figure at the right, which represents a man in a kaiak following four 

 seals. The two figures extending above and below the median line are 

 bear skins. The two elongated figures at the narrow portion of the 

 bow are otter skins. These are succeeded at the next widening of 

 the bow by the representation of another bear skin, and so on alter- 

 nately to the extreme right, in addition to the last otter skins there 

 being still two added because of the narrowness of that portion of 

 the bow. The space beyond the perforation in the bow at the extreme 

 right is ornamented also. 



Plate 24, figs. 5 and 6, represents two ivory bodkins, both from Norton 

 Sound, Avhere they were obtained from Mr. E. W. Xelson. They are each 

 about lOA inches in length. The specimen shown in fig. 5 is sharj)ly 

 pointed at either end and has three decorated sides. On the plate the 

 illustration is inverted so that the triangles with projecting lines which 

 represent summer habitations are misleading. In this instance the 

 figure of the summer habitation has been adopted as a means of deco- 

 ration only and has no special import. Upon the next side, the edge 

 of which is partly visible, are the figures of eight walruses, also i)laced 

 upon the utensil simply as a means of decoration. Upon each of the 

 three sides appears a deeply creased base line, and at intervals of 

 about one inch are oblique lines one-eighth of an inch in length placed 

 almost together, closely resembling one of the forms utilized to denote 

 or indicate the '^ Finback " whale. The signification of these charac- 

 ters, however, can not be determined. They are believed to represent 

 decorative marks only. 



Plate 24, fig. 0, represents a bodkin, only one end of which is sharp- 



' Evolution iu Art, before quoted. 



