GRAPHIC ART OF THE ESKIMOS. 



833 



The representation of the two snow shovels, tig. 40 a and fr, is to 

 indicate the manner of attaching the ivory cutting edges upon which 

 some of the engravings described are found. The wooden portion is 

 generally made of spruce ; the several pieces comprising the shovel, as 

 above shown, are secured together by means of sinew braid. They are 

 used for all kinds of shoveling in the snow, and sometimes for excavat 

 ing in snowdrifts, for making pitfalls for game, etc. The edge of the 

 wood is fitted with a tongue into a groove in the top of the ivory edge, 

 which is 1J inches deep. It is fastened on by wooden treenails at 



Fig. 40. 



SNOW SHOVELS. 



irregular intervals, and at one end, where the edge of the groove has 

 been broken, by a stitch of black whalebone. * * * The whippings 

 of sinew braid on the handle are to give a firm grip for the hands. 1 



Fig. 41 is a fanciful object &quot; made solely for the market.&quot; The speci 

 men measures 2.6 inches in length, and is made of an ivory head fitted 

 into a handle of wood painted red. &quot;The head was called a dog, but 

 it looks more like a bear. Small bits of wood are inlaid for the eyes, 

 and the outline of the mouth is deeply incised and colored with red 

 ocher, having bits of white ivory inlaid to represent the canine teeth. 



Ninth Annual Report, Bureau of Ethnology, 1887-88. 1892, p. 306, fig. 386, a and b. 

 NAT MUS 95 53 



