ETHNOLOGICAL MATERIAL j^q 



long and 1 1 deep. The front is made with eight bands of open 

 work, each a half inch in width and stained black or red. The 

 ends are of dressed leather, 2.5 inches wide. The back has five 

 bands of open mesh one inch apart. The top is of caribou 

 leather, 3 inches wide, with two sinuous lines of porcupine 

 quills, which are sewed on without the slightest attempt at 

 harmony of colors. There is a hem of blue strouding around 

 the top. Three thongs in front serve to close the bag by pass- 

 ing through loops in the back. The front is ornamented by 

 tags of colored worsted. The line attached to the end loops is 

 of four-ply babiche, two feet long. 



A specimen made by the Hare Indians at Good Hope, differs 

 slightly in detail and is more decorated and with better taste. 



Babiche. This is a line cut from a wet, partially dressed skin 

 and stretched and dried. Two women work together in cutting 

 babiche; one holds the skin and the line as it is cut; the other 

 draws the knife in long steady strokes, skilfully gauging the 

 width with her thumb. Two lines are usually cut together. A 

 caribouskin fairly riddled with grub holes may be quickly 

 transformed into a strong and serviceable line. The collection 

 contains several specimens of babiche, No. 9,638, and articles 

 made from it. No. 10,833 * s a ^ inG used by the Dog Ribs in 

 lacing sleds, etc. It is of six-ply braided babiche, 0.4 inch wide 

 and 30 feet long. I saw a few an inch wide and several fathoms 

 long and stained, but these were unusually large and they are 

 not usually colored. 



Deer Snare. These are now used as a last resort when am- 

 munition cannot be obtained. I saw but two in the country. 

 One of these, No. 10,839, is of three-ply twisted babiche. 



Dog Whips. I purchased specimen No. 10,832 as a type of 

 the dog whip used by the Northern Indians. The stock is of 

 birch, a foot in length and 1 inch in diameter. There is a raised 

 section in the middle, marked with raised incised lines. The 

 handle is 4.7 inches long and enlarged at the end to prevent 

 its slipping through the hand. The outer end is flattened on 

 opposite sides to receive the broad thongs from the lash which 

 are seized with babiche in two circular grooves. The lash is 

 50 inches long and 0.3 inch in diameter. It is smoothly rounded, 

 ten-ply braid, and is loaded with shot. The cracker is 11.5 

 inches long of three-ply twisted babiche. Near the handle 



