GRAPHIC ART OF THE ESKIMOS. 887 



suits are represented, one being interrupted in order to prosecute 

 another. The natives had one out in their baidarkas to fish, as indi 

 cated by the middle figure of No. 2 group holding up two fish which 

 had been caught, and the man No. 4 also having a large salmon (?) 

 attached to a pole. A whale was observed spouting, No. 1, when the 

 boatmen started after him, the foremost one darting his harpoon into 

 the animal while the one on the stern began to make signals, calling to 

 his companions that there was game in sight. The signal is the com 

 mon one of holding aloft, horizontally, an oar so that it may be seen by 

 those toward whom it is held and intended to be seen. The signal was 

 observed, as we perceive in No. 3 the three men pushing into the water 

 the baidarka, lying on its side, the middle man holding the harpoon 

 while the one at the right is pushing at the vessel. No. 4, as already 

 stated, has a fish attached to a pole; No. 5 is making gestures, also 

 calling to others to come, while No. 6 is seen walking toward the shore 

 with a rod, probably intended for an oar. 



The three small crosses in a horizontal line above No. 3 denote birds 

 Hying in air. 



Plate 66, fig. 1, consists of a short ivory handle for carrying a kantag 

 or bucket. It is a very old, yellowish-brown piece of ivory, and was 



Jt. m . l M . Tl M f*T&amp;gt; 



Fig. 105. 



WHALE HUNT. 



obtained at St. Michaels. The engraving is characteristic of the locality, 

 being deep and boldly cut. Upon the upper surface shown in fig. 1 

 appears an umiak with four hunters, the one in the bow preparing to 

 throw his harpoon toward a whale. In front of the latter is another 

 umiak, the man in the bow of which is also throwing his harpoon to a 

 whale, while in front of the latter is a projecting fluke, indicating an 

 animal of similar species descending into the water, while to the right 

 is an umiak, the occupant of which is endeavoring to throw his harpoon 

 into the whale just referred to. At the extreme right is another umiak 

 with four men, the one in the bow also harpooning a whale. The head 

 of the latter is drawn very much in imitation of a tuskless walrus, and 

 might be mistaken for that animal, or a seal, but for the spray of water 

 which is represented as being thrown from the blow holes. Turning 

 the handle around, we perceive advancing from the right two umiaks with 

 masts erect, upon which are several indefinite figures. A little farther 

 on, however, is shown a whale to which a line is attached, indicating 

 that he has been harpooned, while the shapeless figure referred to may 

 possibly indicate the inflated skin which is always attached to impede 

 progress in the case of an escaping monster of this kind. The curious 



