The Material Culture of the Eskimo in West Greenland. 183 



and by degrees the rifle bag (pôrtag, 301 1) came into existence on 

 the deck of the kayak, which, now, in several districts is enjoined 

 under penalty by the native administration. 



The rifle-bag consists of old stiff boat-skin; at its pointed end 

 there is a strap which is buttoned to a small bone-toggle which is 

 secured to a line sewn fast to the deck of the kayak; sometimes a 

 small bone hook is preferred which catches in a small loop. The 

 opening is stiffened with a ring of iron or wood; it rests on a low 

 tripod of wood which has its place under the hne-rack, where it is 

 in various ways fixed to one of the cross-straps of the kayak. This 

 tripod has to raise the opening of the bag sufficiently to prevent the 

 sea from washing into it. 



In the winter the rifle-bag is removed; it is released from ring 

 and tripod and carried in this form on the dog-sledge, or it is provided 



5 dm 



Fig. 33. Rifle-bag with tripod, attached to the deck of the kayak. 



with a carrying-strap when the hunter hunts afoot on land or ice. 

 Like everything else the rifle is ordinarily carried with the carrying- 

 strap across the forehead. 



Towing Implements and Drags. 



Having laid low his prey the Eskimo kayak hunter wants to take 

 it home with him. Birds and fish he puts on the kayak, merely 

 thrusting them under the straps ; a small seal is taken home in the 

 same manner if the man is clever and the weather not too bad. But 

 if the seal is large or if the prey consists of walrus or white whale it 

 has to be towed, and for this a set of towing tackle is required. 



The object is the same everywhere, namely to fasten the seal to 

 the kayak so securely that it shall not get loose of its own accord, 

 and yet in such a way that the hunter, if he wishes, can free him- 

 self of it by a few movements of his hand, at the same time guarding 

 against its loss when loosened, and to secure it in such a position 

 as to offer the least possible resistance in the water, while causing 

 no list of the kayak. Just as the object of the implement is every- 

 where the same, so is the principle of its construction. But that 

 does not prevent the individual details from varying somewhat ac- 



1 This word was originally used to indicate the skin bag in which the bow 

 was carried in order to protect the sinew backing from getting wetted. 



