NELSON] SNUFF-BOXES- DESCRIBED 273 



TOBACCO IMPLEMENTS 



SNUFF-BOXES 



The snuff is kept in neatly made boxes, and is used by placing one 

 end of a tube (made from the wing- bone of a goose or other water fowl) 

 successively in each of the nostrils and inhaling vigorously from the 

 snuff-box in which the other end of the tube is placed. 



The boxes used for containing snuff vary greatly in form, many of 

 them showing remarkable skill in carving and ingenuity in conception 

 of the designs. 



A snuff-box from Kigiktauik (number 33074) is formed of a baud of 

 bone bent into a circle and riveted at the ends by pieces of iron; this 

 serves as a foundation on which is fitted a top and a bottom in the form 

 of truncated cones, the top having a round hole in the center, capped 

 with a wooden cover. The baud of bone has a few circles and dots 

 etched on its surface. 



A circular wooden snuff - box from Kaialigamut (figure 20, plate 

 LXXXVI) is slightly narrower at the top and is beveled inward from 

 the rim both above and below to the convex top and bottom; the 

 cover has a projecting arm, extending slightly beyond the edge of the 

 box, by which it can be raised. In both top and bottom are set five 

 small ivory pegs with broad heads. The box is painted black, except 

 the beveled edge of the rim above and below and the lever-like handle 

 on the cover, which are red. Another specimen, brought from Xorton 

 sound, is shaped similarly to the preceding, but has four grooves around 

 the outside, forming bead-like ridges, the upper and lower ones being 

 the largest. 



The snuff-box from Auogogmut (figure 21, plate LXXXVI) is somewhat 

 similar to the above-described specimen from Kigiktauik, but the top 

 and the bottom are carved in relief to represent a human face surrounded 

 by a beveled ridge; two beads are inlaid to represent labrets, and the 

 mouth and the eyes are indicated by inlaid pieces of ivory. A series of 

 beads is set in a groove around the middle of the box, which is painted 

 red. 



An oval wooden box from Kushunuk (figure 11, plate LXXXVI) forms 

 a sharp angle at each end; the top and bottom are slightly convex. 

 The sides are painted with alternate stripes of black and red; on the 

 top the red is replaced by dull blue, the bottom also being of that 

 color. A loop of sealskin cord three and a half inches long forms a 

 handle on the cover. 



Another oval box, obtained at St Michael (figure G, plate LXXXVI) 

 has the sides made of leather covered with black whalebone, the ends 

 of which are notched and interlocked. The top and bottom are of wood 

 neatly fitted. To the center of the top is fastened a stout rawhide cord 

 about three inches long, which has attached to its end a small tube for 

 inhaling snuff . 



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