NELSON] THROWING STICKS BOWS 155 



Figure 43 (4), likewise from Sabotnisky, has two pins on the handle, 

 against which rest the second and little fingers. The usual slot for the 

 thumb and an aperture for the admission of the first finger are pro- 

 vided. - 



Figure 43 (5), from St Michael, has two pins, one of wood and the other 

 of deerhorn, on the side of the handle as rests for the first and last 

 fingers. Three hollows on the upper surface serve for the tips of the 

 last three fingers. An upright wooden pin at the end of the groove in 

 the handle is intended to retain the butt of the spear. 



Figure 43 (3), from Norton sound, has a hole on the underside for the 

 forefinger, a shallow depression on the upper surface for receiving the 

 tips of the fingers, and two bone pins on the side, against which the 

 third and last fingers may rest. 



Figure 43 (9), from St IVIichael, has two wooden j)ins on the side and 

 a depression on the upper surface as rests for the fingers, and a hole 

 through the lower part for the forefinger, in front of which is cut the 

 raven totem sign. 



Figure 43 (2), from Cape Vancoiaver, is a long, slender stick, with a 

 narrow groove on one side of the handle for the thumb, two pins on the 

 opposite side as rests for the first and second fingers, and a deep 

 depression on the top for the ends of the last two fingers. 



Figure 43.(8), from Nunivak island, has two pins on one side of the 

 handle as rests for the first and second fingers, a groove for the thumb, 

 and a crossbar of ivory at the end of the groove in the upper surface, 

 with a small spur at its side to retain the butt of the spear. 



Figure 43 (11), from Kushunuk, has three pegs along one side of the 

 handle, and a groove on the upper surface as a rest for the fingers, 

 while a rounded slot on the opposite side is intended for the thumb. 



Figure 43 (10), from Nunivak island, was obtained by Doctor Dall. 

 It has three pegs on one side of the handle and three depressions on 

 the upper surface as finger-rests and a deep slot to receive the thumb. 



Among the throwing sticks obtained by Doctor Dall on Nunivak 

 island is one having two bone pegs on one side and made to use in the 

 left hand. This is the only example of the kind in the collection. 



BOWS 



Bows and arrows were still in common use for shooting birds and 

 fish in some districts of northwestern Alaska during my residence there. 

 The Eskimo hunter's rule for making his bow was that it should be the 

 length of his outstretched arms, measuring from the finger tips. The 

 length of the ordinary hunting or war arrow was the distance from the 

 tip of the extended left thumb to the inner end of the right collarbone, 

 but if the man happened to be short armed he usually measured from 

 the tip of the left forefinger instead of from the thumb. 



Among the Eskimo the making of sinew-backed bows attained a 

 high degree of excellence, particularly in the district between lower 

 Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers, where bows are still used more than 



