166 Morten P. Porsild. 



cannot protrude and impede the entrance. The weapon is adjusted for 

 being fixed onto the movable foreshaft of the harpoon shaft, and 

 the two short hne-ends are then made fast to the igimaq down in the 

 lashings (see Fig. 24). This lance is used mainly by hunters who hunt the 

 hooded seal {Cystophora cristata.) The hooded seal is a large and strong 

 animal which at once becomes aggressive in the open sea when wounded. 

 Naturally, after having harpooned it, one tries to shoot it or stab it 

 with the large lance; but the furious animal bites the implements to 

 pieces, and should it happen that it succeeds in breaking the lance, or, 

 as may also happen, that the point of the lance gets fixed in a bone, 

 the kayak hunter may incur great danger. He now fixes the savgutartoq 

 to his harpoon shaft and has almost as effective a lance. 



The reserve-lance shown in Fig. 25, A is from Kronprinsen Eiland 

 where every hunter has one in his kayak. 



It is strange that Fabricius, who lived in districts where the hooded 

 seal was hunted, does not know this implement. From his book "Om 



Fig. 24. A savgutartog (reserve lance-head) set on the igimaq of a harpoon shaft. 



de grønlandske Sæle" it appears that he knew the hunting of the seal 

 on drift-ice best. This method is preferred in South Greenland because it 

 involves least danger, as out in open water, the seal breaks all implements 

 to pieces. In the Table in his paper on the hunting of seals a figure (4. g.) is 

 to be found which Fabricius describes as a thrusting harpoon for hunting 

 on ice. It seems somewhat strange to him that this "small harpoon" 

 has no barbs at all, but as he does not know hunting on ice from per- 

 sonal experience, he thinks that perhaps they are unnecessary; as here 

 the seal has but little time to act in self-defence. Probably, there- 

 fore, Fabricius has seen such a lance, but has not had its purpose ex- 

 plained to him, because, as a harpoon, it is quite impossible; it is con- 

 structed specially for the object in view — namely to allow of its being 

 easily withdrawn. 



The reserve lance or as American authors call it "the loose lance- 

 head" is a well-known weapon among the Central Eskimo. From Cum- 

 berland Sound KuMLiEN has brought home some specimens, his book, 

 however, gives no information about their use, beyond that which lies 

 in the name. Some of Kumlien's specimens are excellently reproduced 

 in Mason, who in his monograph on the harpoons treats them together 

 with a number of other not relevant implements. Nevertheless he every- 



