246 THK POINT BAKROW ESKIMO. 



These weapons are generally very much like the- specimen described, 

 but vary somewhat in the shape and material of the balls, which are 

 sometimes simply ovoid or spherical, and often made of single teeth of 

 the walrus, instead of tusk ivory. Hone is also sometimes used. In 

 former times, the astragalus bones of the, reindeer, perforated through 

 the ridge on one end were used for balls. No. 8941)0 [1342], is a pair of 

 such bones tied together with a bit of thong, which appear to have been 

 actually used. No. 89537 [1251] from TTtkiavwIn is a very old ball, 

 which is small (1-1 inches long) and unusually flat. It appears to have 

 been kept as a relic. 



There is very little information to be found concerning the extent of 

 the region in which this implement is used, either in the Museum col 

 lections or in the writings of authors. A few points, however, have 

 been made out with certainty. The, bolus are unknown among all the 

 Eskimo east of the Anderson Eiver, and the, only evidence that we 

 have of their use at this point is an entry in the Museum catalogue, to 

 which I have been unable to find a corresponding specimen. Dease and 

 Simpson, in 1837, did not observe them till they reached Point Barrow. 1 

 They were first noticed by Beechey at Kot/ebue Sound in 1820. 2 Mr. 

 Nelson s collections show that they are, used from Point Barrow along 

 the Alaskan coast, at least as far south as the Yukon delta, and on St. 

 Lawrence Island, while for their use on the coast of Siberia as far as 

 Cape North, we have the authority of Nordenskiold, 3 and the Krause 

 Brothers. 4 



HUNTING IMPLEMENTS OTHER THAN WEAPONS. 



Floats. I have already spoken of the floats (apotu kpun) of inflated 

 sealskin used in capturing the whale, and walrus. We obtained one 

 specimen, No. 73578 [538] Fig. 249. This is the whole skin, except the 



FIG. 249. Seal skin float. 



head, of a male rough seal (Phoca fotida), with the hair out. The car 

 cass was carefully removed without making any incision except round 

 the neck and a few inches down the throat, and skinned to the very 



1 T. Simpson s Narrative, p. 1.10. 



2 Voyage, p. 574. 



3 Veca, vol. 2, p. 109, and Fig. 3, ]&amp;gt;. 105. 



4 Geoyiapliischc Blatter, vol. 5, pt. 1, p. 32. See also Rosso, Arctic Cruise of the Corwin, p. 34 



