372 Thomas Thomsen 



Eskimonæsset. 



The finds from Eskimonæsset (80° 26' N. lat.), being the only 

 relics of the sojourn of the Eskimo in these northermost regions, 

 occupy a peculiar position, which makes it natural to treat them 

 collectively. 



The finds consist almost exclusively of bone implements, large 

 in size, which shov^' that material was abundant. The snow knife 

 (PI. X, 1) is unusually large and strong, being 41 cm. in length and 

 73 cm. in extreme breadth. PI. X, 2, shows the broken blade of a 

 similar knife measuring in this condition 295 cm. in length. ^ 



The bone object- shown in PI. X, 6 is made from a rib-bone 

 and is 44-7 cm. long; it is narrowed down and roughened at both 

 ends in order to be tied to something or other; at the end which is 

 turned upwards in the figure, moreover, a bevelled surface is seen, 

 which shows that it was intended to be lengthened by splicing on 

 another piece to it. Here we undoubtedly have a cross-bar of a 

 sledge, as they were made where wood was scarce. The sledges seen 

 by John Ross at Cape York had similar cross-bars; in his figure-^ 

 one can see that the stave uniting the two uprights consists of two 

 separate pieces spliced together. 



A considerable number of sledge-shoes of bone were found. 

 One, 50*7 cm. long is shown in PI. XVIII, 13^; in several of the holes, 

 which, as is usual, were drilled in various directions in order to 

 give a better hold, wooden nails still remain fixed. Seven other 

 specimens^ are from 1ГЗ to 393 cm. long; one specimen is only 

 42 cm. wide, the others vary from 49 to 5*5 cm. in width. Be- 

 sides these there were two large bone pieces without holes'^, un- 

 doubtedly unfinished sledge-shoes; they are 61 and 73 cm. broad 

 respectively. 



A foreshaft, 242 cm. long, for the harpoon shaft, is shown in 

 PI, X, 4^. Its butt end is bevelled for splicing to the shaft; at its 

 fore end is seen the socket for the loose shaft, while immediatedly 

 in front of the bevelled surface there is a hole for the thong with 

 which it was secured to the shaft. 



The next piece (PI. X, 5)^ belonged to an ice-hunting harpoon; 

 it has been spliced to the shaft at its butt end, while the harpoon- 

 head has been placed at its fore end. It is 426 cm. in length and 

 29 cm. in extreme breadth. 



In PI. X, 10 ^ is figured an axe-head. It is seen from above; to the 



' Mus. No. L. 3ü!)'J— 3100. '^ Mus. Nr. L. 3101. з john Ross. A Voyage of 



Discovery; plate opposite p. 102. * Mus. No L. 3091. * Mus. No. L. 3092 — 



309S. 6 Mus. No. L. 3083—3084. ' Mus. No. L. 3106. ** Mus. No. L. 3106. 

 3 Mus. No. L. 3103. 



