MURDOCH.] now TOOLS. 293 



scribed. The manner in which this tool is used is as follows: The end 

 is inserted between the strands at the middle of the bow, so that the 

 ridge or hook catch us the lower strands, and the end is carried over 

 through an arc of 180, which gives the cable a half turn of 

 twist. This brings the twister against the bow, so that the twisting can 

 be carried no further in this direction, and if the tool were to be removed 

 for a fresh start the strands would have to be held or fastened in some 

 way, making the process a slow one. Instead, the tool is slid back be 

 tween the strands till the other end comes where the first was, so that 

 the hook at this end catches the strand, and the workman can give to 

 the cable another half turn of twist. This is continued until the cable 

 is sufficiently twisted, the tool sliding back and forth like the handle of 

 a vise. The tools are used in pairs, one being inserted in each cable 

 and manipulated with each hand, so as to give the same amount of twist 

 to each cable. At the present day, these tools are seldom used for bow 

 making, since the sinew-backed bow is so nearly obsolete, but are em 

 ployed in playing a game of the nature of pitch-penny. (See below, 

 under games and pastimes.) 



These tools, of which we collected twenty-six specimens, are all of 

 walrus ivory, and of almost exactly the same shape, varying a little in 

 size and ornamentation. They vary in length from 3 to 5-7 inches, but 

 are usually about 4 inches long. The commonest width is 04 inches, 

 the narrowest being 0-3 and the width 0-7 broad, while the thickness is 

 almost always 0-3, varying hardly 0-1 inch. Most of them are plain, but 

 a few are ornamented with incised lines, and two are marked with 

 &quot;circles and dots&quot; as in Fig. 286, one of a rather large pair (No. 5G521 



Flo. 286. Twister 1 nr working sinew backing of Imw. 



[249] from Utkiavwlfi). These are 5-4 inches long, neatly made and 

 quite clean. All the others show signs of age and use. 



There are large numbers of these tools in the, National Museum from 

 various points in the region where bows of the Arctic type are used, 

 namely, from the Anderson River to Norton Sound, and one from St. 

 Lawrence Island, whence we have received no twisted bows. Their use 

 was, however, not definitely understood, as they are described simply 

 as u bow tools,&quot; &quot;bow string twisters&quot; or even &quot;arrow polishers.&quot; Mr. 

 Nelson informs me, that the, tool is now not used in Norton Sound, except 

 for playing a game, as at Point Harrow, but that the natives told him 

 that they were formerly used for tightening the backing on a bow and 

 also for twisting the hard-laid sinew cord, which is quite as much, if not 

 more, used at Norton Sound as the braid so common at Point Harrow. 

 1 lind no mention of the, use of this tool in any of the authors who have 



