36 NATURAL HISTORY OF ARCTIC AMERICA. 



of the pattern liere figured. This specimen is IVom a grave at Exeter 

 Sound, and greatly n^sembles in pattern the iron seal harpoon-heads of 

 the i)i('.sent day. Others were made like the walrus harpoon, but hav- 

 ing barb.s, instead of being iron-tipped. A very ingenious contrivance 

 about tliese old spears is the perfect ball-and-socket Joint which unites 

 the ceheemuiH/, or bone ])ortion (on which the liaipoon is jthu'ed), with 

 the shaft. The shaft, if made of wood, has a bone tip, which is cui)pe<l 

 to receive the rounded end of the ccUecmung ; they are kept in place by 

 two thongs of seal-skin, wliich makes it sufliciently firm to use, but at 

 the same time will allow the eclicenumg to double upon the shaft without 

 breaking when an animal is struck. 



As before mentioned, so few bows and arrows are now in use that it 

 is almost imi)Ossible to procure a bow and set of arrows that are actually 

 or have been in use. In the following illustration, no less than eight differ- 

 ent patterns of arrows are represented. We have derived our informa- 

 tion from various sources besides our own observations. We had in- 

 structed some of the most intelligent Eskimo to make for us wooden 

 models of all the different kinds of an'ows that they ever knew were in 

 use. So far as we were able to procure or see the original, these models 

 were faithfully and well executed, and leaves us no reason to think that 

 they in any instance imposed upon us. Some of the arrows wc have 

 seen in the possession of sailors that had bartered for them for a mei-e 

 song, but would not trade them to us, uikUt the impression that they 

 would bring fabulous sums in the States. They now probably adorn 

 some third-rate gin-shop. 



Of the arrows figured. No. 1 is made from iciudcer antlers, with short 

 wooden shaft, an old and ^(■^v cdinninn lonn ol'arntw. No. 2 is ])erhaps 

 still older. This is also made of reindeer horn. It is more common on the 

 (Ireenland coast than among the Cumberland Eskimo. No. o is the 

 only one of the kind I saw, and this I was unable to ])rocure; the head 

 was of Hint, nii<l the next pieceof bone, with the wooden shaft lashed in 

 two places, showing i)robably a scai'city of wood. No. -4 was a rare (?) 

 form of arrow among the Cumberland Eskimo. The hea<l was ma«le <»f 

 stone, with the Ibrward port i(m of the shaft of bone and the rest of wood. 

 No. 5 was iron-tipped, a favorite pattern when iron was scarce. No. 7 

 is now tlie style used bj' the children, and was probably the next pattern 

 suggested after No. 5, as any pointed piece of iron can be utilized for 

 this form of arrow. No. has a lance-shaiied and somewhat eh)ugated 

 iron head; such ariows were made only when they could get a considera- 



