MURDOCH.] 



CKOOKED KXIVKS. 



159 



knives, projecting beyond the end of the haft. This knife, has a blade 

 of iron riveted on with two iron rivets to a haft of reindeer antler. The 

 edges of the, haft close to the blade are roughened with crosscuts to 

 prevent slipping. 



The blades of the small knives are frequently inserted into a cleft in 

 the edge of the haft, as in Fig. 115i, 89031} [827], and 8!&amp;gt;277 [ 1 1 72]. The 

 blade, in such cases, is secured by wedging it tightly, with sometimes the 

 addition of a lashing of thong through a hole in the halt and round the 

 heel of the blade. The blade is usually of steel, in most cases a bit of 



Flu. 115. Small cnioktil knives. 



a saw and the haft of reindeer antler, generally plain, unless the circular 

 hollows, such as are to be, seen on No. S9277 [11 72], which are very com 

 mon, are intended for ornament. Fig. 116, No. 89275 [1183], from Tt- 

 kiavwln, is a rather peculiar knife. The haft, which is the only one 

 seen of walrus ivory, is nearly straight, and the unusually long point 

 of the blade is strongly bent up. The rivets are of copper. This knife, 

 the history of which we did not obtain, was very likely meant both for 

 wood and ivory. It is old and rusty and has been long in use. 



KlO. 116. CYiHikcd knifi-. 



All of the, crooked knives in the collection are genuine implements 

 which have been actually in use, and do not (litter in type from the 

 (rooked knives in the Museum from the Mackenzie district, Kotxebue 

 Sound, and other parts of Alaska. Similar knives appear to be used 

 among the Siberian Eskimo and the (Jlmkches, who have adopted their 

 habits. Hooper (Tents, etc., p. 175), mentions &quot;a small knife with a, 

 bent blade and a handle, generally made of the tip of a deer s horn,&quot; as 

 one in general use at Plover Bay, and handled in the same skillful way 



