104 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 13 



•Figure 31, from tbe lower Yukon, is a tube with tlie head of a walrus 

 in relief on each of two sides near one end and the head of a seal on 

 the other end. 



Figure 28, from Kotzebue sound, is of ivory in the shape of a small 

 flask closed by a wooden stopper. The wooden bottom is held in place 

 with wooden pegs. In relief on one side of the neck is the figure of a 

 right whale, and on opposite sides are two bears. 



Needle-cases are sometimes used without stoppers, in which case a 

 large cord of sealskin is passed through the center, which terminates 

 in a hook of bone or ivory for holdmg thimbles, or hung to it by small 

 €ords are various little pendent ornaments, which consist sometimes 

 of, the canine teeth of various animals, but are often small carvings 

 representing arrowheads, human faces, miniature belt fasteners, and 

 various animal forms. . When this style of needle-case is used the needles 

 are thrust into the sealskin cord and are drawn into the case by pulling 

 on the other end of the cord, and when needed can be withdrawn by a 

 reverse movement. 



Figure 25, obtained on ]!forton sound by Mr L. M. Turner, is a good 

 example of this style of needle-case with sealskin needle hokler. 



Figure 2G, from St Michael, is a small, neatly carved needle-case pend- 

 ant representing a, reindeer's foot. 



Figures 22, 23, and 27 represent a number of these small pendants, 

 all of which were obtained at Kushuuuk. Tlie last mentioned is in the 

 form of a frog with a large head but without the fore-limbs. 



women's "housewives" ' 



The little cases oi: bags for materials used in sewing and for other 

 articles for women's work, commonly called " housewives," are in general 

 use among the western Eskimo. They are made from skins of various 

 kinds and embellished with needlework in ornamental i)atterns. The 

 lower end terminates usually in a bag and the upper end is rounded; 

 to the latter a rawhide cord is attached, having at its end a slender 

 cross-pie.ce.,of bone, ivory, or deerhorn from three to eight inches in 

 iengthj^which is generally carved into various designs with the iuge- 



■ nuity characteristic of these people. When not in use the "housewife" 

 is rolled -up, the cord is wound several times around it and fastened by 

 thrusting one end of the cross-piece under the cord. 



A specimen of these housewives from Ivaialigamut (number 37918) 

 is made from the skin of reindeer ears and pieces of skin from other 

 parts, of the same animal. The upper end is rounded and trimmed with 

 stripes of white, black, and russet leather parallel to the curved edge, 



'the seams being sewed in black ^nd white. Tbe lower end terminates 

 in a bag, the inner surface of which is divided into square sections by 

 double row* of stitching, along which are painted bordering red lines. 

 Along the outer edges is a narrow strip of white reindeer fur succeeded 

 by a little strip of plucked beaver, outside of which is a coarse fringe 

 made from little strips from the edge of the skin of reindeer ears. 



