NELSON j TOOL BOXES 95 



A box from Cape Vancouver (number 37357) is flattened oval in out 

 line, with a seal s head carved upon it, the eyes of which are represented 

 by a piece of marble on one side and a fragment of porcelain on the 

 other; ivory pegs form the nostrils, and at the corners of the mouth 

 are ivory pegs with beads set in the center to represent labrets. On 

 the top and on each side of the head small blue beads are inserted. A 

 groove painted black extends around the sides of the box, in which 

 seven ivory pegs are inserted. The cover is attached as usual by 

 hinges of rawhide. The box is cracked, and has been mended by raw 

 hide cords laced through holes on each side of the fissure. A rawhide 

 loop passing over a peg set in the front of the box serves as a fastening. 



A box from Pastolik (plate XLII, 11) is made in three pieces, the 

 bottom being fastened on with wooden pegs; it is rather flattened oval 

 in outline, and represents the body of a seal. The head is represented 

 with the mouth open and with wooden pegs for teeth; the nostrils 

 are marked by ivory pegs, and for the eyes are inlaid small oval 

 pieces of ivory with a hole in the center to represent the pupil ; the 

 flippers are carved in relief on the sides and at the rear; the tail is 

 represented on the upper surface of the box and forms a thumb-piece 

 for raising the cover. The cover is slightly convex without and con 

 cave within, with a groove extending its entire length; a groove is 

 also cut around the body of the seal, and another below it extends the 

 whole length of the box. The surface is painted black, except the 

 grooves and the interior of the month of the seal, which are red. 



The inside of the cover is decorated with figures in red and black, 

 representing human beings and animals. On one side the thunderbird 

 is represented grasping a deer with one claw and a man in a kaiak 

 with the other; on the opposite side the thunderbird is seizing a whale 

 with one claw and a seal with the other. One curious figure represents 

 a double-head wolf with four legs and connected by a black line with 

 the hand of a man. 



Another box from Pastolik (number 38739) is made from separate 

 pieces, the ends being mortised into the sides; wooden wedges are 

 driven into the tenons to fasten them more firmly in the slots; the 

 bottom is attached by wooden pegs. On the inner surface of the lid 

 are painted in red a number of figures of men and animals, many of 

 which are obscene. The outer surface is not colored, but is cpvered 

 with neatly made parallel grooves extending lengthwise and following 

 the outlines of the box. 



A box from Kaialigamut (number 37562) is made of wood, and is 

 oval at one end and truncated at the other; about an inch from the 

 truncated end a crosspiece is inserted in slots on each side, which are 

 cut narrow at the edges and flaring toward the inside, so that the 

 edges of the crosspiece, which are cut in corresponding shape, hold 

 the ends of the box firmly in position. The sides are formed by one 

 piece, which is bent to form the oval figure ; the bottom is attached by 

 wooden pegs, and the cover is hinged with rawhide. For fastening, a 



