234 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [kth.ann. 18 



mon unit of measure used amon;^ these people. It is the regular measurement used 

 for all objects having considerable length, such as rawhide lines, nets, cloth, etc. It 

 is adopted by the fur traders, and is called a ' fathom.' By it cloth and other trading 

 goods of that character are sold, the end of the article to be measured being taken 

 in the left hand, with the extreme end opposite the tip of the left thumb, then the 

 edge of the cloth is slid through the right hand and raised until it is drawn across 

 the chest, under the chin, by the outstretched right hand; then the left hand drops 

 its end and takes a new hold at the point of the right thumb, and so the operation 

 is repeated until the desired length is obtained. 



CHRONOMETRY 



The Eskimo divide their time by moons, each moon being designated 

 by the title of the most characteristic local phenomenon which accom- 

 panies it. The following lists of mouths from various localities agree 

 in this. By the '' moons" all time is reckoned during the year, and dates 

 are set in advance for certain festivals and rites. In addition to the 

 moons, the year is frequently divided into four seasons according to the 

 regular occupations that occur in each — but this is indefinite and irreg- 

 ular as compared with the other method. 



In counting years they are referred to as winters — the winter being 

 the most impressive i)art of each year in this high latitude. 



The following are Unalit terms: 



A year, (itlil-han'-i. 

 A moon, i-gha'-Juk. 

 Spring, n'-jn-nukh'-kuk. 

 Summer, ki-iik'. 

 Autumn, uk-shu'-uk. 

 Winter, uk-shuk'. 

 Long ago, u-ka'. 

 Very long ago, u-ka -mi. 



Thirteen moons are counted to a year, but I failed, unfortunately, to 

 obtain the complete series. In the following lists the moons are arranged 

 as they correspond with our months; as a matter of course, this corres- 

 pondence is not perfect, but is very close. 



January, TVi'-wlk. "To turn about," from an ancient game played with a top. 



February, Nai-ikh'-chik. Time first seals {nai'-yik') are born. 



March, Ti-gi</'i-1 iikh' -ohik. The time of creeping on game. From the custom of 

 hunting seals on the ice by stalking. 



April, Kip-niikh'-chik. The time of cutting off. From the appearance of sharp 

 lines where the white of the ptarmigans' bodies is contrasted with the brown of the 

 new summer neck feathers which begin to appear at this time. 



May, Kai'-dkh-tug'-o-wik. Time for going in kaiaks. The ice opens at this time 

 so that the hunters go out to sea in kaiaks. 



June, No-ukh'-clmg'-u-tvik. Time of fawn hunting. 



July, Kon-in'-ni-g'e'-nut in-if-u-vi-ut. The time of geese getting new wing feathers 

 (molting). 



August, Euj'-u-gut in-tj'-u-vi-ut. Time for brooding geese to molt. 



September, Am-i-ghai' -ghu-wlk. The time for velvet shedding (from horns of rein- 

 deer). 



October, Ku'-hvi-jukh-piig'-ii-tvik. Time for setting seal nets. 



November, tfk' -ichu-tug' -u-wik. Time for bringing in winter stores. 



December, Chati'-i-ug'-u-ivik. Time of the drum — the month when the winter fes- 

 tivals begin. 



