798 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



A crude or unfinished umiak with four occupants is shown in fig. 32. 

 The bodies are not indicated; the heads, arms, and oars being incised. 

 The umiak itself is well drawn, but with mast or rigging erected. 



Further reference to vessels, both as to pictographic variants and in 

 relation to conveyance by this means, will be made farther on in con 

 nection with conveyance and domestic avocations. 



REPRESENTATION BY SYNECDOCHE. 



The representation of part of an object to represent the whole, or vice 

 versa, is not so common in the etchings of the Eskimo as in the picto- 

 graphs of the Indians. 



In many instances in the ornamented ivory records, parts of animal 

 or other forms are portrayed in this manner, and such abbreviated 

 characters are subsequently utilized and arranged in such order so as 

 to serve the purpose of simple ornamentation, the primary object or 

 concept having but little if any further connection in its new position. 



Mr. L. M. Turner 1 informs me that &quot;the marginal engravures, 

 resembling the tail of a whale, are intended to represent the number 

 of white whales [Delpliinapterus catodon (Linna3us) Gill.] the owner (or 

 maker) of the ivory article has personally killed or taken in a net. 



Fig. 33. 



ESKIMO HUNTER AND HERD OF REINDEER. 



There are, sometimes, partnership pursuits of these whales (as well as 

 other creatures), and by mutual agreement the quarry falls to him who 

 first struck, killed, or otherwise would have secured the whales.&quot; 



The spears which are portrayed upon some of the engravings of 

 natives in kaiaks are placed so as to be upon a rest, similar to that 

 shown in plate 29, in order that they may be quickly grasped for use. 

 These rests are made of ivory, and in many instances are decorated. 

 The specimen herewith reproduced is from Point Barrow, where it was 

 obtained by Lieutenant P. H. Ray, U. S. A., and by him sent to the 

 National Museum. 



The entire length of the specimen is SJ inches, the distance across 

 the horns fleiug 4J inches, and across the base, just beneath the figures 

 of the whales tails, 2 inches. 



The tails denote the owner to have been a whale hunter. The top of 

 the horns is fashioned in imitation of a whale s head, the long-curved 

 mouth being carefully indicated, while blue beads are inserted to indi 

 cate the eyes. Upon the outer edge of each horn, corresponding to 

 the back of the whale, is a cross, in the middle of which is a blue 

 bead. The four loops of thong are for attachment to the boat. 



1 Letter dated February 25, 1895. 



