ICE STAFFS AND CREEPERS 



215 



FIG. 67 Ice staff (|). 



the weight of the man is distributed over three points, and thus he 

 is often enabled to pass over places which 

 otherwise would not support him. 



These staffs are alsoused in summer travel. 

 During- this season the tundras are covered 

 with tussocks and soft beds of sphagnum, 

 which render walking excessively laborious 

 and difficult. By use of the staff the traveler 

 is enabled to walk more safely, and by lessen 

 ing the weight on his feet, does not sink so 

 deeply in spongy patches of nioss or in semi- 

 marshy ground. 



Figure 67 illustrates one of these ice staffs 

 from Cape Nome. 



An ice staff from Point Barrow (figure 68) 

 consists of a round wooden staff nearly five 

 feet in length, the lower end being tipped 

 with a cap of ivory, held in place by a pin 

 through its base. Through the upper end is 

 a hole, ill which is a sealskin loop for hang 

 ing the staff on the wrist. 



ICE CREEPERS 



Ice creepers are used to prevent the feet 

 from slipping while traveling over the sea 

 ice or frozen snow in spring. In some of 

 them the central groove is deepened to form 

 an oblong slot, piercing through, and on 

 others the points are formed in groups near 

 each end. 



Figure 69 (3) represents a pair of ice creep 

 ers from Cape Darby, consisting of small, tlat, 

 oblong ivory rods 3 inches in length, with 

 the upper surface slightly rounded and the 

 lower side having a deep, flat groove extend 

 ing lengthwise along the middle, leaving 

 two high ridges that are crossed by deep 

 grooves, producing a row of pyramidal points 

 along each edge. The ends are provided 

 with two holes, in which are fastened the 

 rawhide cords by which the creepers are 

 attached to the sole of the boot. 



A pair of ice creepers from St Lawrence island (figure 69, 5) 

 are in the form of flat, ivory bars, about 4 inches long and an 

 inch wide. Eight small holes are drilled into the lower sur 

 face, in which are inserted small, round-pointed iron spikes; there are 





