200 



THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT 



[ETII.ANN. 18 



Fig. 58— Wooden paint box (about §). 



inteuded to represent the larva of some insect. It is cut from a single 

 piece and has an oval, stopper-like cover, with a cord loop in the center 

 for raising it. A series of alternately red and black grooves encircle 

 the sides of the body; the crescentic mouth is incised, two beads rep- 

 resent the nostrils, and two incised rings outline the eyes. The mouth, 



nostrils, and eyes are painted red, the 

 rest of the face showing the natural 

 color of the wood. 



A box from the lower Yukon (figure 

 58) is flattened above and below, and 

 is pear shape around the sides, which 

 are formed by bending a thin strip of 

 wood, the ends being sewed together 

 with spruce root ; the bottom is fast- 

 ened on with wooden pegs, and a 

 stopper-like cover, with a flaring rim, 

 fits into the top, on which a series of small triangular and circular 

 pieces of ivory are inlaid. The colors which originally ornamented 

 this box have disappeared through long use. A box from Pastolik 

 (number 33014) is somewhat similar to the preceding, but the cover is 

 held in place by a long cord which is wound several times around the 

 box and fastened over a peg which projects in front. 



A rudely oval box from the lower Yukon (figure 7, plate lxii) is 

 cut from a single piece of wood, and has two compartments to each 

 of which is fitted a stopper-like cover, one rounded in outline and the 

 other with one end truncated; 

 they are provided with small 

 cord loops for lifting them. 

 The body of the box has a 

 groove extending entirely 

 around the sides; another 

 starting from it jjasses under 

 the bottom to the opposite 

 side. 



A handsome wooden box 

 from Big lake (figure 50) is 

 carved from a single piece, 

 and has a stopper-like cover. 

 The body of the box represents 

 a seal with the front flippers 

 in relief and the eyes formed 

 by white beads; the wrists of 



the flippers are crossed by a small inlaid bar of ivory. At one end 

 of the cover is a human face carved in relief, the mouth and eyes 

 being represented by pieces of ivory neatly inlaid. This face and a 

 circle about the eyes of the seal, as well as a long ridge connected with 



Fig. r)9— Wooden iiaiiit box (about §). 



