164 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [ETH.ANN. 18 



Figure 8, plate LXIII, represents a pair of bullet molds, from Chalit- 

 mut, made from two small blocks of slate neatly hollowed out and set 

 in wooden blocks, united by pins and corresponding boles so that the 

 faces of the molds are brought squarely together; there is a conical 

 hole at the top by means of which lead can be poured into the mold. 



Figure 16, plate LXIII, represents a bullet starter, from Cape Van 

 couver, for use in muzzle-loading guns; it is made of wood and has a 

 bone handle. Figure 15, plate LXIII, shows another bullet starter 

 made entirely of bone, which was obtained at Auogogmut. 



Nearly all the guns in use at present among the Eskimo are muzzle- 

 loaders, and the ingenuity of the natives is displayed in the many 

 forms of cap boxes, powder chargers, and flasks made by them. 



A common style of cap box is made of wood, flattened and rectangu 

 lar in shape, with a sliding cover. Some of these are plain, others 

 nave their surfaces cut into a variety of patterns. Figure 28, plate 

 LXIII, from Pastolik; figure 30 of the same plate, from Cape Nome; 

 and figure 29, from Sledge island, are examples of this style of box. 



Other small wooden cap boxes are rounded in cross section, broadest 

 at the base, and tapering toward the top, where they are truncated 

 and fitted with a wooden stopper. Figure 17, plate LXIII, illustrates 

 one of these boxes, obtained at Cape Vancouver. It has a series of 

 grooves around the sides. 



Figure 27, plate LXIII, from Kushunuk, is a round sided box, shaped 

 like a truncated cone, with a separate piece fitted in the bottom. Fig 

 ure 6 of the same plate, from Kowak river, is another tapering box of 

 this kind, with the top turned out to form a lip, under which is fas 

 tened a rawhide cord for attaching the box to the hunting bag. 



Another curious style of box, made to contain a few caps in each 

 end, illustrated in figure 1, plate LXIII, was obtained at St Michael. 

 It is a long, cylindrical box, largest in the middle and tapering toward 

 both ends, which are truncated. It consists of two pieces, excavated, 

 neatly fitted together, and fastened by sinew cords. Extending cross 

 wise through the middle is a wooden pin for the attachment of the cord 

 which fastens the box to the hunting bag. A little wooden stopper is 

 inserted in each end. 



Other cap boxes are made of ivory, cut into various forms, with a 

 stopper in one end and the other closed by a piece of wood which is 

 held in position by rivets. Figure 4, plate LXHI, from Cape ISTome; 

 figure 5 of the same plate, from Norton sound; figure 7, from Nubviuk- 

 chugaluk; and figure 2, from Kaviak peninsula, illustrate specimens 

 of these boxes. 



Powder chargers are even more varied in form, and show more inge 

 nuity in design than the cap boxes. 



Figure 3, plate LXIII, is a small charger, made of bone, with a long, 

 round, wooden cap box attached to it by a sinew cord. It was obtained 

 at Norton bay. 



