MURDOCH.) ARROWS ARROW RELEASE. 207 



is often replaced by an empty cartridge shell, which makes a very good 

 head. I have seen a phalarope transfixed at short range by one of these 

 cartridge-headed arrows. An assortment of the different kind of arrows 

 is usually carried in the quiver. The lot numbered L&amp;gt;5, from Niiwfik, 

 which I believe to be a fairly average set, contains two Hint-headed 

 bear arrows, one barbed bear arrow with a steel pile, six bear arrows 

 with iron piles, one deer arrow, two fowl arrows, and one bird arrow. 



As I have already said, all these arrows are flattened above and below 

 at the nocks. This indicates that they were intended to be held to the 

 string and let go after the manner of what is called the &quot; Saxon release,&quot; 

 namely, by hooking the ends of the index and second fingers round the 

 string and holding the arrow between them, the string being released 

 by straightening the fingers. This is the &quot;release&quot; which we actually 

 saw employed both by the boys and one or two men who showed us how 

 to draw the bow. This method of release has been observed at Cum 

 berland (riilf and at East Cape, Siberia, and is probably universal 

 among the Eskimo, as all the Eskimo arrows in the National Museum 

 are fitted for this release. There is ample material in the Museum col 

 lections for a comparative study of Eskimo arrows, which I hope some 

 day to be able to undertake, when the material is in a more available 

 condition. One or two references to other regions will not, however, be 

 out of pla&amp;lt;;e. The arrow with a barbed bone after-pile seems a very 

 general form, being represented in the Museum from most of the 

 Alaskan regions, as well as from the Mackenzie. Scoresby mentions 

 finding the head of one of these at the ancient settlements in east 

 Greenland. 2 The arrow, however, described by Capt. Parry 3 has a real 

 foreshaft of bone, not a barbed after pile. One of these arrows from 

 the Mackenzie has the after pile barbed on both sides, the only instance, 

 I believe, in the Museum of a bilaterally-barbed Eskimo arrow where 

 the pile is not wholly of metal. 



Bow CHHCX (onl quirerx. The bow and arrows were carried in a bow 

 case and quiver of black sealskin, tied together side l^v side and slung 

 across the back in the same manner as the gnu holster already de 

 scribed. We obtained one case mid quiver which belong with the bow 

 and arrows (No. 125, from Niiwiik) and a single quiver with the bow and 

 arrows (No. L&amp;gt;34, from Sidaru.) The case, No. .S!l 4&quot;&amp;gt; [L&amp;gt;5J, Eig. 190a 

 (pizl kslzax), is of such a shape that the bow can be carried in it strung 

 and ready for use. It is made by folding lengthwise a piece of black 

 sealskin with the flesh side in and sewing up one side, &quot;over and over&quot; 

 from the outside. The bag is wide enough &amp;lt; inches at the widest 

 part to allow the bow to slip in easily when strung, and the small end 



&quot;In shooting tins weapon the string is plaee&amp;lt;l on the first joint of the first and seeond lingers of the 

 right hand.&quot; i K innli.-n. Contributions, p. 37.) 



&quot;Beim Spanuen wird der JM eil nieht zwisi-lien Dainiien nnd Zeigetinger, sondern xwiselien Xeige uml 

 Mittellingergehalten.&quot; Kralliw lirothcrs, Gcographische Hlatter, vol. 5. p. M. 



Voyage to the Northern Whale Fishery, p. 187. 



*2d Voyage, p. 511, and tigured with the bow (22j on I l. opposite p. 550. 



