236 Morten P. Porsild. 



ideal form such as that expressed in the forms with which the 

 Eskimo are suppUed through their trading connection with Europeans. 



Neither, as regards stone lamps for the burning of seal 

 oil, are there found any regional forms proper, to justify the state- 

 ment that each tribe had its own form. The form, in this case, is 

 primarily dependent on the accidental form of the raw material, and 

 in a less degree on the object in view. There is, however, here, as 

 shown by Hough, a certain degree of adaptation to local needs, in 

 so far as large lamps are in the majority in the high Arctic 

 regions and small ones in regions where the period of darkness is 

 comparatively short, or where other fuel is used. But that does not 

 preclude large lamps also being found in the latter localities be- 

 cause a surplus of light and heat is inevitably connected with the 

 Eskimo idea of luxury. 



Of the various, both ancient and modern, methods for hunting 

 on ice in West Greenland a more exhaustive description is given 

 here than has been given anywhere else, and in the case of each 

 method an account is given of its dependence upon local, chmatic 

 and other conditions, as also of its economic importance. 



A number of old, and several new implements are 

 here described for the first time. Some of them have oc- 

 casionally been mentioned previously from West Greenland, but have 

 not been exhaustively described; and some have hitherto been known 

 from other Eskimo tribes only. The following should especially be 

 noticed: — Shooting harpoon for use on kayak; har- 

 poons for hunting Arctic RightWhale; detachable lance- 

 head for harpoon; a sealing net of whalebone strings; 

 a shooting screen for huntingon ice and for use on kayaks; 

 a drift rudder; a rifle bag for the kayak; marrow-ex- 

 tractors; a louserake (back scratcher); some specimens 

 of ajagaq; and a stone knife for carving in bone and 

 wood. Also, a description is given of the peculiar working me- 

 thod employed in the use of the stone knife. 



Lastly, I wish once more to draw attention to the fact that the 

 common "models" from West Greenland especially of kayaks, umiaqs, 

 and sledges are not true models, but merely the products of a domestic 

 industry and intended for sale to foreigners, and that all the propor- 

 tions and peculiarities of construction usually differ greatly from 

 those found in the real article. And as a closing remark I want to 

 point out that though faked "antiquities" are very rare, yet 

 they may sometimes be met with. 



