128 



THE POINT BARROW ESKIMO. 



the pattern of No. 50748 [130], namely, brown, with white leg gussets. 

 Pantaloons wholly of brown skin are quite common, especially for every 

 day wear, while striped ones, like No. 74042 [1792], are much less usual 

 and worn specially for full dress. Children s pantaloons are always 

 brown, and I have seen one pair, worn by a young lad, of lynx skin. 

 The two or three pairs which w r e saw worn by men were wholly brown. 

 These pantaloons of leg skin with sealskin soles are always worn with 

 the hair out and usually over a pair of under pantaloons of the same 

 shape, but made of softer skins with longer hair, which is worn next 

 the skin, and with stocking feet. The outer pantaloons are discarded 



FIG. 73. Patterns of won an s pantaloons. 



in summer and the inner ones only worn, the feet being protected by 

 sealskin waterproof boots, as already stated. The waterproof sealskin 

 pantaloons mentioned in the same, connection do not tit so neatly, as 

 they are made with as few seams as possible (usually only one, up the 

 leg) to avoid leakage. They are sewed with the waterproof seam, and 

 held up round the ankle by strings, like the waterproof boots to be de 

 scribed further on. This last- mentioned garment seems to be peculiar 

 to the Point Barrow region (including probably Wainwright Inlet and 

 perhaps the rest of the coast down to Kot/ebue Sound). No mention 

 of such a complete protection against wet is to be found in any of the 

 published accounts of the Eskimo elsewhere, nor are there any speci 

 mens in the Museum. 1 



Dr. Simpson s language (op. cit., p. 243) is a little indefinite (&quot;The feet and legs arc incased in 

 water-tight sealskin boots&quot;), hut probably refers to these jw well as to the, knee boots. The &quot;outside 

 coat of the same material.&quot; and the hoots and outside coat &quot;made all in one, with a drawing string 

 round the face,&quot; mentioned in the same* place, appears to have gone wholly out ot fashion since his 

 time. At all events, we saw neither, though wo continually saw the natives when working in the 

 boats, and these garments, especially the latter, could hardly have failed to attract our attention. 



