26 CAVE RELICS OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS. 



19. Five toy kantags, (17448-52,) varying in dimensions fi-om two by one and 

 one half inches to three by four inches, evidently the table service of some child, 

 rudely carved out of single pieces of wood. Also a nearly oval dish (17447) 

 about three inches long, with flat up-turned handles. 



20. A bit of wood, (17255,) curiously carved, and resembling pieces which are 

 used on bidarkas under the seal-skin lines which extend across the top of the 

 canoe. By moving these about, the lines are lifted so that a paddle or an 

 arrow can be pushed under them and thus secured at sea. If this is the same 

 thing, it is only a miniature child's toy. I can think of no other explanation 

 of it. 



21. A curious kind of narrow fillet or braid, (17269,) consisting of a twisted 

 thread of some animal substance resembling wool or the under fur of a dog or 

 fox, wound alternately over each of two parallel cords of sinew, and crossed 

 between them, so as to resemble, externally, a braid of three strands, though 

 only one thread is actually employed. 



This completes the list of the articles found in the cave. It is hardly to be 

 expected that the discoveries should in all respects confirm the literal accuracy of 

 the tradition which has doubtless grown in precision with the lapse of time, as it 

 was passed from one to another. The identification of the individuals mentioned 

 in it was hardly to be hoped for. If the large case, which has been described in 

 detail, was that of the old toyon's son, he must have been older than the tradi- 

 tion asserts. It must be borne in mind also that two of the packages were not 

 forwarded to the National Museum, and one of these may have been that of the 

 child in question. Nor do either of the young children mentioned appear to be 

 of sufficiently immature development to justify the assumption that they repre- 

 sented the prematurely-born infant mentioned in the story. 



Apart from all this, the fact that all the contents of the cave examined show 

 no trace of any influence arising from civilization (if we except the diseased 

 cranium mentioned) is sufficient to put it beyond a reasonable question that the 

 interments were of at least as early a date as that I have assigned to them. 



I may now consider the material which has accumulated relative to the 

 Kaniag'miit cave-burials. We learn from Lisiansky and others that the whale- 

 men of the tribe were considered a peculiar caste among their countrymen. 

 Although held in high esteem for their courage and skill, and for the important 

 contributions to the sustenance of the community which were due to their 

 efforts, it is related that, during the whaling season, they were considered 

 unclean and did not mingle with the rest. 



The profession was hereditary, and the bodies of the whalers were preserved 

 in the same manner as previously described among the Aleiits, and placed in 

 caves the locality of which was kept secret, and was known only to those of the 

 same family who were interested in the remains. This precaution was necessary, 



