24 CAVE RELICS OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS. 



evidently for aiding in making it fast to a handle. I think they might have been 

 used in some way connected with sewing work. I believe that the last four ivory 

 articles were found in the boot along with the seal image. 



A wooden doll (17446) very rudely made, without arms or legs, and which, by 

 the resin adhering to it, might have once been inserted at the base into some 

 thing else, perhaps a model of a bidarka. Such toys are frequently seen among 

 the native children. Where the left arm might have been, some one had cut on 

 the figure a rude pair of eyes, a nose, and mouth. On the face of the doll two 

 lines extend backward and upward from the corners of the mouth, which may be 

 intended to represent some form of tattooing. 



One rude amber bead, (17270a,) evidently of native make, on a sinew thread. 

 The amber Avas obtained from the lignite beds, which are reported on the islands 

 of Amchitka, Atka, and Unalashka, and may exist elsewhere. We know that 

 amber was held in great esteem by the early natives, and extraordinary value set 

 upon it. This bead, therefore, may have represented in value a good many sea- 

 otter skins. 



A piece of parchment made from the oesophagus or stomach of the seal, 

 colored red. Eight strips of hair-seal skin with the hair on. The purple-blue 

 throat of a merganser. Two pieces of puffin skin with the feathers on. The 

 skin of a little auk (Phaleris.) The scalp of a tufted puffin and one of an eider 

 duck. Another puffin scalp, reddened inside. The skin of a gray-necked 

 finch (Leucosticte,) which furnishes the red feathers for the embroidery. A strip 

 of fur-seal skin. Half a dozen pieces of parchment or tanned sea-lion skin. 

 In short, the odds and ends of the work bag of an Aleiit woman. (17271.) 



8. A little square piece of grass matting (17468,) rolled up, and containing a 

 little roll of birch bark ; three little pieces of hair-seal skin ; a little bunch of 

 the hairs from the reindeer s hoofs ; another, of the feathers from the tufts of the 

 puffin ; a little bit of skin from the belly of the winter reindeer, with the hair of 

 pure white ; and, lastly, a bunch of brown and gray hair, quite fine, and appar 

 ently human ; all these tied up neatly with a sinew thread. 



9. A little grass fold, (17466,) like those the natives use for carrying needles 

 and thread ; measuring when folded, five and a half by two inches. Neatly 

 woven and empty. 



10. A comb (17251) formed by lashing by the middle, thirteen pegs of wood, 

 sharpened at each end, to a tolerably stout stick with sinew thread of two 

 strands. 



11. A miniature grass basket ; a toy, an inch and a half long. (17462.) 



12. A rather coarse grass basket, (17460,) woven with loops about the circum 

 ference of the edge, one black stripe around near the top, and two parallel rows 

 of black tufts inserted into the fabric a little lower down. 



13. A shallow, but well and closely woven, woman s work-bag or basket of 



