NELSON] TOOL BOXES 97 



deeply incised, crescentic mouth. The eyes and the nostrils of the 

 larger seal and the eyes of the smaller seal are formed by the insertion 

 of ivory pegs. Ivory pegs are also set around the edges of the body of 

 the seal on the cover. This is a very old box, and if it was ever painted 

 the coloring has long since disappeared. 



Another old box (number 37553), from Askinuk, is oval in outline and 

 has one end carved to represent the head of an animal. The nostrils 

 are formed by blue beads, between which projects an ivory peg. Oval 

 pieces of bone serve for the eyes, with a slit in the center for the pupil. 

 The cover is an oblong strip of wood truncated at one end and the other 

 tapering to a projecting point, which serves as a thumb-piece by which 

 it can be raised. It is held in position by pegs at each* end and by a 

 thin strip of spruce rootlet passed through a hole on each side of the 

 box. 



Plate XLII, 7, is a box from Sfugnnugumut, composed of three pieces 

 of wood. The sides were formed by a strip bent and joined on beveled 

 edges at the ends. The bottom is slightly convex and is attached by 

 wooden pegs. The cover is similar in outline, but one end extends 

 upward and forms the head of a seal, the eyes of which are of ivory, 

 with small blue beads for the pupils. Ivory pegs form the nostrils, 

 and others are set at the corners of the mouth to represent labrets. 

 Fore-tlippers are cut in relief on each side of the cover, the intention 

 having been to represent a seal lying on its back. A groove extends 

 around the side, in which are set small ivory pegs, with a round hole 

 in the center of each. Similar pegs ornament the surface of the cover, 

 which has the usual rawhide hinges and loop passing over a peg in 

 the front of the box for a fastening. 



From Kaialigamut is a box (number 37863), cut from a single piece 

 of wood, the interior excavated and the cover neatly fitted. It is in the 

 form of a seal, the tail forming a thumb-piece by which the cover can 

 be raised. The mouth is incised, the nostrils are flattened spots on the 

 muzzle, and both are painted red. The eyes are represented by small 

 ivory pegs. Extending along each side and the top of the cover is a 

 long groove, broad in the center and narrowing at each end, on which 

 are depicted various figures of men and animals in black on the back 

 ground of red with which these grooves are painted. The body of the 

 seal is colored a dull blue. Three black stripes extend from the crown 

 along the sides. The center of the back and the outlines of the flippers 

 are also black. 



Figure 28 is an oblong box from the lower Yukon. It is made from 

 thin boards fastened together with wooden pins. On all the surfaces 

 except the bottom, rows of ivory pegs are inserted. On the upper sur 

 face are two small rectangular doors extending across the box from 

 side to side and opening into little shallow box like compartments. 

 They are hinged with strips of sealskin neatly sewed in place by chain 

 stitches of spruce root, and fastened to them are pieces of rawhide, by 

 18 ETH 7 



