THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



alternating stripes of black and white fur are very much like the 

 decorations used by the Chukchee and Koryak, and it is very 

 suggestive to find a specimen of this make so far away from the 

 coast of Asia. It may indicate an early and long forgotten 

 connection between the tribes of this region and those of Siberia. 

 Captain Comer received a full explanation of the significance 

 of the various figures on the coat. The two hands signify that 

 no supernatural being can touch the shaman, and the bears at 

 the top of the back of the coat represent the guardian spirits of 

 the owner, while the figure of an infant shown over the hands 

 calls to mind a vision which the shaman had when he received 

 his supernatural power. 



Many of the implements and games collected in Igloolik rep- 

 resent new types. They somewhat resemble in form the speci- 

 mens obtained from the northeastern coast of Baffin Land. 

 Evidently there is a considerable amount of intercourse between 

 Igloolik and that region. 



Among the specimens from the region northwest of Hudson 

 Bay are several dresses which are covered with amulets. On a 

 boy's coat we find attachments of bear-teeth and pieces of rabbit- 

 fur and of seal-skin, all of which are intended to secure good luck 

 for the owner. The rabbit-skin is intended to make him tread 

 softly, so that the deer will not hear his approach. The bit of 

 seal-skin will enable him to become a good boatman, and prevent 

 his capsizing in bad weather. Engraved bone implements from 

 this tribe are of interest, also, because they are perhaps the first 

 specimens of engravings obtained from the region, although it 

 has been known for a long time that the Eskimo of Alaska are 

 very expert etchers and engravers. In this the Alaskan Eskimo 

 differ greatly from the eastern Eskimo, who are expert carvers, 

 but who, it would seem, did not do any engraving before the 

 advent of the whites. It is therefore of some interest to find this 

 art fairly well developed as far east as Hudson Bay. 



Captain Comer also made a small collection of specimens from 

 Southampton Island. The tribe inhabiting this island is re- 

 markable on account of its primitive character. They still con- 

 tinue to use the bow and arrows with flint points. They make 



