GRAPHIC ART OF THE ESKIMOS. 



897 



Fig. 113. 



ALASKAN NOTICE OF DIRECTION. 



colnmii of smoke is seen arising from the middle elevation of the habi 

 tation. 



At No. 4, food is seen suspended beneath the inverted boat, while 

 abo\e it the harpoon is projecting, showing that the weapon is kept 

 near at hand for immediate use, should occasion demand it. 



The engraving in plate 70, fig. 4, presents interesting details in the 

 portrayal of various attitudes assumed by walrus Nos. 4, 7, 9 and 11, as 

 well as the specific difference between 

 the canoes, the baidarka holding more 

 than one person, and the kaiak, gen 

 erally, but for one person. The former 

 is shown in various styles, as Nos. 1, 2, 

 and 3, while the latter is represented in 

 Nos. G, 8, 10, 12, 13, and 14. The small 

 cross above No. 3 denotes a bird in 

 flight, as also the two figures of like 

 form above the seal at No. 7. A large 

 w^ter fowl still remains upon the water 

 before the bow of the kaiak at No. 8. 



The hunter in the kaiak No. 6 has 

 thrown his harpoon into a walrus, while 

 the occupants of Nos. 10 and 12 have 



raised their weapons preparatory to throwing them. The elongated 

 objects projecting from the kaiaks, behind the occupants, Nos. 10, 12, 

 and 13, are inflated seal skins used as floaters for the harpoon line, 

 to impede the speed of the harpooned animal, and also to prevent 

 its escape by remaining too long underwater or to 

 trace its course while there. 



TRAVEL AND GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES. 



Locomotion by boat is graphically represented in 

 many records and by sledge in occasional instances. 

 Walking with the seal spear used as a cane is com 

 mon, and in one example age is also indicated by 

 the attitude of the bent body, a method of portray 

 ing physical condition seldom found in Eskimo picto- 

 graphs, but of frequent occurrence in the records 

 of the Ojibwa and Dakota. 



Fig. 113 is reproduced from a small slab of wood, 

 and is explained as follows: 



Seal hunters thus inform their comrades that they have returned 

 home: The first to return to the regular lauding place sometimes sticks 

 a piece of wood into the ground leaning toward the village, upon which 

 is drawn or scratched the outline of a baidarka or canoe heading toward 

 one or more outlines or lodges, signifying that the occupants have gone 

 toward their houses. 



NAT MUS 95 57 



Fig. 114. 



ALASKAN NOTICE OF DI 

 RECTION. 



