The Material Culture of the Eskimo in West Greenland. 



127 



wound the animal severely; but the latter is a secondary object. From 

 a boat the harpoon is thrown. For this it is necessary that it should 

 be furnished with a shaft, but as soon as it has struck the game the 

 shaft has done its part, and must be got out of the way, so that it does 

 not become entangled in the line or broken by the movements of the 

 animal. From firm ground the harpoon is thrust into the game. The 



A 



П 



B. 



§ f 



Fig. 1. Typical West Greenland forms of harpoon and their orientation. 



A, Symmetrical; blade-slit vertical; blade of stone; line hole situated about the 

 middle of the bone piece minus the blade; toggling butt undivided, dorsal. 



B, Symmetrical; blade-slit horizontal; blade of metal; line hole ventral; toggling 

 butt undivided, dorsal. C, An almost bisymmetrical little form; toggling butt 

 divided laterally; in other respects resembling B. D, Large unsymmetrical form; 

 the blade was of metal, but rather small, but the wound was enlarged by a 

 lateral barb with a cutting fore-edge. This barb is sufficient to hold the harpoon 

 fast in a seal, while with Narwhal and White Whale the harpoon should be 



driven so far in that the undivided toggling butt can perform its function. 



length and arrangement of the shaft is regulated according to the various 

 conditions under which the harpoons are used. 



In order that the harpoon (Figs. 1 and 2) may perform its main 

 function its hinder end is cut aslant; it may, moreover, be undivided, 

 situated on the dorsal side, or be unilateral or divided laterally. The 

 way in which the strap of the line is placed may also contribute to an 

 easier and more effective toggling. The line hole may run directly through 

 the harpoon, or lie in the horizontal plane preferably somewhat down 

 the ventral side reverse to the toggling butt, but this may easily inter- 

 LI 11 



