NELSON] BUCKET HANDLES NEEDLE-CASES 103 



are carved in relief two figures of seals with their heads facing inwaud. 

 The whole group represents two seals lying on the ice near their hole 

 antl two polar bears rising from the water at the edge of the ice, close 

 to the seals. 



NEEDLE-CASES 



The women have a great variety of cases for holding their needles, 

 differing widely in form and made from a diversity of materials, show- 

 ing the remarkable ingenuity of these i)eople in their adaptation of 

 ornamental designs to practical purposes. 



In the country about the lower Yukon and southward to the Kusko- 

 kwim a favorite form of needle-case is made from a section of the hollow 

 wing-bone of a goose or other large waterfowl, plugged at each end 

 with wooden stoppers, one representing the head and the other the tail 

 of a fish. The surfaces of these cases are covered with a variety of 

 incised patterns, as will be seen by the following figures comprising 

 plate XLiv : 



Figure 35, from Kushunuk, is one of these needle-cases, representing 

 a fish. Figure 33, from Cape Vancouver, and figure 3 A, from Sabotnisky, 

 also represent fishes and have tufts of seal hair inserted around the 

 wooden head and tail. 



Figure 30, from Kushunuk, has the stopper carved in the shape of 

 the head of a young white whale. Figure 30, also from Kushunuk, has 

 a fiat stopper in one end and a round knob on the other. 



l^igure 38, from Norton sound, is an ivory tube in the form of a 

 woman's leg, with etched lines to represent the seams of the trousers. 



Figure 37, from Konigunugumut, is made of wood, over which are 

 placed five empty cartridge shells. The stopper is in the shape of a 

 cormorant's head. 



Figure 46, from Unalaklit, is an octagonal tube of ivory. 



Figure 30, from Hotham inlet, is a round, ivory tube with a figure 

 of an Arctic hare in strong relief on two opposite sides, near one end. 



Figure 32, from St Michael, is an ivory tube, round at one end and 

 broadened by a ridge on each side near the other. It has the raven 

 totem etched upon it. 



Figure 48, from Unalaklit, is a short, ivory tube plugged at one end 

 and with blue beads inlaid around it. The surface is surrounded by 

 zigzag etchings and raven totem marks. 



Figure 29, from Sledge island, has in relief on two sides the figures 

 of two white whales. 



Figure 45, from the lower Yukon, is a tube in the form of a woman 

 standing with her arms held against her sides. 



Figure 40, from King island, is a round tube carved with two human 

 figures, facing inward from each end, in a sitting position, with the 

 elbows resting upon the knees and the hands folded under the chin. 

 This is a fine piece of carving, and from the fact that it has been much 

 worn by handling it is doubtless of great age. 



