82 



dressed deerskin and do not exhibit the care the Eskimo are 

 accustomed to exert on their outfits. Perhaps this is because 

 the case is not always used, the bow and arrows often being 

 carried in the hand. 



HUNTING LARGE GAME. 



The Eskimo of the east Labrador coast used to hunt whales 

 from the larger bays and inlets, such as Nachvak and Hopedale. 

 The Eskimo name for Hopedale (Ai'vil'ik "whaling place,") 



Figure 25. Ivory harpoon head with iron point, from Joksut, Labrador. 

 Length 6 inches. 

 Collected by E. W. Hawkes. Division of Anthropology, Museum No. IX A. 47. 



suggests its former use. Whaling was carried on until recent 

 years at Nachvak. The humpback was the principal quarry. 



For striking the whale, a harpoon of a heavier type than the 

 kayak harpoon was used. The shaft was longer and heavier 

 and the point much larger. Figure 25 represents an old whaling 

 harpoon point from Cape Chidley. To the harpoon line several 

 large floats were attached at intervals in bunches of three or 

 more, to impede and mark the flight of the whale. When the 

 whale had become exhausted and the umiak was able to get 

 near enough to it, it was killed with a long-handled lance 

 (anyo'^ifukY with broad blade of bone or flint. The divings and 

 struggles of the wounded whale sometimes upset the boat and 

 resulted in a catastrophe to the crew, as noted in the tale concern- 

 ing some Tunnit (see page 149). 



At the present time, the larger species of whale have almost 

 entirely disappeared from the coast, and the Eskimo turn their 

 attention to the never-failing supply of beluga, or white whales, 



1 Literally, "the killer." 



