200 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



[ETIl. ANN. 18 



FIG. 58 Wooden paint box (about g). 



intended to represent the larva of some insect. It is cut from a single 

 piece and has an oval, stopper-like cover, with a cord loop in the center 

 for raising- it. A series of alternately red and black grooves encircle 

 the sides of the body; the crescentic mouth is incised, two beads rep 

 resent the nostrils, and two incised rings outline the eyes. The mouth, 



nostrils, and eyes are painted red, the 

 rest of the face showing the natural 

 color of the wood. 



A box from the lower Yukon (figure 

 58) is flattened above and below, and 

 is pear-shape around the sides, which 

 are formed by bending a thin strip of 

 wood, the ends being sewed together 

 with spruce root; the bottom is fast 

 ened on with wooden pegs, and a 

 stopper-like cover, with a flaring rim, 



fits into the top, on which a series of small triangular and circular 

 pieces of ivory are inlaid. The colors which originally ornamented 

 this box have disappeared through long use. A box from Pastolik 

 (number 33014) is somewhat similar to the preceding, but the cover is 

 held in place by a long cord which is wound several times around the 

 box and fastened over a peg which projects in front. 



A rudely oval box from the lower Yukon (figure 7, plate LXII) is 

 cut from a single piece of wood, and has two compartments to each 

 of which is fitted a stopper-like cover, one rounded in outline and the 

 other with one end truncated; 

 they are provided with small 

 cord loops for lifting them. 

 The body of the box has a 

 groove extending entirely 

 around the sides; another 

 starting from it passes under 

 the bottom to the opposite 

 side. 



A handsome wooden box 

 from Big lake (figure 50) is 

 carved from a single piece, 

 and has a stopper-like cover. 

 The body of the box represents 

 a seal with the front flippers 

 in relief and the eyes formed 

 by white beads; the wrists of 



the flippers are crossed by a small inlaid bar of ivory. At one end 

 of the cover is a human face carved in relief, the mouth and eyes 

 being represented by pieces of ivory neatly inlaid. This face and a 

 circle about the eyes of the seal, as well as a long ridge connected with 



Fio. 59 Wooden jwint box (about 



