244 Morten P. Porsild. 



to tbe convex cutting edge, while the upper, shghtly concave edge had not 

 been polished. Afterwards part of this polished surface was lost, having 

 been split ofi by the action of frost, a fairly common phenomenon in Green- 

 land stone implements (though its occurrence has scarcely been sufficiently 

 taken into account by ethnologists!). The blade has doubtless been fastened 

 into a groove of a piece of bone, which again has been fastened to the handle 

 proper. 



This specimen was found in a woman's grave on the island of Manitsoq 

 near Egedesminde. 



That fewer forms of Ulo are now found in West than in East Green- 

 land is of course quite natural. Access to better material has been far easier 

 in the former region, consequently, the finished ideal form, which cannot be 

 perfected any further, was able to come into existence far eaiher there. Be- 

 sides, we must remember that as yet, we have very little knowledge of the 

 former, uninfluenced condition of the implements of the West Greenlanders. 

 Formerly, their implements were not collected as have been those of the East 

 Greenlanders. 



When Thalbitzer says that forms such as my Fig. 46, Nos. 12 and 

 18 are not found in Greenland, he is right as regards No. 18. The fact is 

 that this piece is probably unique as regards its outline merely, which exists 

 only in this specimen in Washington, being probably due to a casual caprice 

 of the maker. But technologically it is very much the same as those 

 from East Greenland, or one might call it a transitional form between these 

 and what I call the ideal type: the fingers are distributed around the middle 

 bar which is really superfluous here. On the other hand I have seen type 

 No. 12 here, where it has probably occurred almost as frequently as else- 

 where, this type is one of the final stages in the progression towards the 

 ideal type, and in it the blade, for the sake of additional strength, is fast- 

 ened to a bone piece ; the blade may be of iron, but stone blades may also 

 be advantageously secured thus. Moreover, Thalbitzer says that forms such 

 as my Fig. 45, Nos. 4 — 6, do not exist outside Greenland. He overlooks 

 the fact that No. 14 (North West Canada) has precisely the same form, and 

 that Nos. 18 (West Alaska) and 21 (ThUnkit Indians) are, technologically 

 speaking, nearly the same. 



I cannot understand why this Ulo-form which I call the ideal type 

 may not be "a true Eskimo implement" because it is entirely, or partly, 

 made from imported material. If it had been a European tool which the 

 Eskimo had adopted for his work, as for instance a pair of scissors or a 

 rifle, then I could have understood this statement, but it is, on the con- 

 trary, a form which the Eskimo is everywhere endeavouring to reach with 

 more or less success according to the material at his disposal. But he can- 

 not make it himself in its most perfect form, because for this he has neither 

 tools nor forging fire. In its perfect form it is prepared especially for the 

 Eskimo by those who deal with him, and of course according to his wishes. 

 On the other hand, when Thalbitzer writes that my "intention seems 

 only to expound the developmental types of the cutting ulos, not of the 

 scrapers" he is quite right. My first object in the task I have set myself 

 has been to try and find out as accurately as possible what is the purpose 

 of each article, and how it is used, because then only can I hope to under- 

 stand its form. 



To page 219. 



I have lately had an opportunity of studying a collection of West 

 Greenland lamps and soapstone kettles — probably the largest collection 



