176 CRUISE OF THE NEPTUNE 



sembling dominoes, but having a greater number of spots on 

 them ; the slabs are thrown in the air, and the number of spots 

 are counted on the slabs that fall right side up. A circular disc 

 of ivory, usually with sawn edges, is threaded on a loop of sinew 

 and made to revolve in the same manner as our own small boy 

 spins a large button. 



The girls have dolls made of wood, and cleverly clothed to 

 represent their elders. The carving of walrus ivory passes 

 many an hour of the long winter. As a rule the carvings are 

 rude representations of various animals and other animate 

 objects, and have no high value as objects of art, but occasion- 

 ally there arises a real artist, who when encouraged will produce 

 wonderfully artistic models of the various animals, men, dog- 

 sleds and almost anything suggested to him. Others are expert 

 in making models of kyaks and hunting gear. 



A common amusement, accompanied by more or less cere- 

 mony, is the sing-song. When such a performance takes place 

 all the natives of the band congregate in one of the larger 

 houses, sitting around on every available spot. The writer at- 

 tended one of these sing-songs given in honour of some visiting 

 natives at Cape Fullerton. The ceremony commenced by an 

 elderly native standing out in the middle of the floor space, and 

 beginning to hop gently about. His wife then started the song, 

 being accompanied in the chorus by the other women of his band. 

 The song is sung a line at a time, in a minor key, the air being 

 confined to about three notes. After each line the chorus of two 

 lines is sung, and is somewhat like, ' Ai yea yae yaeyaeya yae ' 

 repeated twice. While the song is in progress the man dances 

 and hops about the floor, occasionally uttering in a loud voice, 

 we-hew ! we-hew ! The song belongs to the man, and is his own 

 composition, and is composed in a rou^h metre to suit the air, 

 but does not rhyme, and no great attention is paid to the 

 rhythm. The sentiments are at times poetic. In this particular 

 song praise was given to the springtime, and a longing was ex- 



