398 



TIIK I OIXT BAKKOW ESKIMO. 



under tlie first human head, an umiak with four men ; under the second, 

 a &quot;killer&quot; (Orca) heading toward the right; under the third, two of 

 the usual conventionalized whales tails suspended from a cross-line; 

 and under the last, a &quot;killer&quot; with very large &quot;flukes&quot; heading toward 

 the left. 



FIG. 398. Elaborate ivory carving. 



On the reverse there are, below the hear, a bear heading toward the 

 right, below each of the human heads a whale s tail with the flukes up, 

 and under the bear s head a bear heading toward the right. This end 

 is perforated with a large round hole, into which is knotted a bit of 

 deer sinew about 3 inches long, the other end of which, is tied round 

 the junction of two little bowhead whales, each about 1 inch long and 

 carved out of a single piece of ivory, head to head. They are rather 

 rudely carved and have the spiracles incised and blackened. This ob 

 ject appears freshly made, but perhaps commemorates the exploits of 

 some four hunters. It was purchased along with other objects and its 

 history was not learned at the time. 



Perhaps the best image of a polar bear is No. 89500 [1252], Fig. 399, 



from Utkiavwin, which is 

 quite characteristic. It 

 represents thebear stand 

 ing and was carved out of 

 soft, gray soapstone with 

 a knife, and finished off 

 smoothly with a h le. It 

 is 4 inches long. No. 

 89571 [1106], from Nu- 

 wiik, is a very rude flat 

 soapstone bear, 1-9 in 

 ches long, in profile, showing only one fore and one hind leg. It was 

 made for sale, but No. 89570 [900], from the same village, which is almost 

 exactly like this, though smaller, is old. No. S9574 [1027], from Nuwiik, 

 is the gypsum carving of a bear, above referred to, which is very like 



Flo. :{99. Bear rarvetl of soapstmio. 



