14 



otherwise» — John Murdoch expressly affirms the same; in 

 speaking of the Point Harrow Eskimo and their traditional tales 

 he says: «The expression: when all men wore one labret — , 

 means: a very long time ago — , as the single labret has long 

 been out of fashion and a few only are preserved as heirlooms 

 or amulets«. 



Nevertheless we cannot but wonder at the perseverance 

 with which the natives have still clung to the same ancient 

 custom which has braved the arctic winters of Point Barrow and 

 is still fashionable at the Mackenzie also. IN ТИК CENTRAL 

 REGIONS, HOWEVER, IT MLST AT LAST HAVE SÜCCLiVlBED. In 

 Greenland, strange to say, it is not known, as far as 1 remember, 

 even from the folklore. 



As concerns HAIR-DRESSING a sort of tonsure is generally 

 used by men in the West and at the Mackenzie R. beyond 

 which it is sporadic, f. i. on the coasts of Hudson's Strait and 

 of Smith's Sound. As for women hair dressing begins in the 

 West with DEPENDENT BRAIDS and ends in Greenland with having 

 the whole rolled up in a single STRAITLY TIED TIFT the thickness 

 perpendicular position of which is of the highest importance 

 among the objects of the toilet. This tuft makes its first appear- 

 ance east of Point Barrow, but here combined with the plaits, 

 and hereupon it continues alternately in this way and again varying 

 with the use of braids alone, until at length in Greenland the 

 luft becomes the absolute custom. 



Finally the use of MASKS for dancing festivals and especi- 

 ally connected with religious ceremonies is developed in a high 

 degree among the Alaska Eskimo and like the labrets links 

 them to the Indians. But also like the latter it disappears 

 towards the East. 



