TOY IMAGES SNOW KNIVES 



345 



Fig. 131— Toy bear with dog liamess (i). 



The girls frequently have a uumber of dolls varying in size, the 

 smaller ones being made so that they will stand upright. While making 

 a brief visit to Sledge island, two little girls in the house where we 

 stopped amused us by watching their opportunity, while we were busy 

 about other things, to place their dolls standing in a semicircle before 

 us upon the tioor, while they sat quietly behind as though permitting 

 their dolls to take a look at the strangers. In connection with these 

 toys girls have alSo a complete outfit of toy bedding made from the 

 skins of mice or lemmings, small grass mats, toy boots, mittens, and 

 clothing, all patterned after those used 

 by the people of the locality. 



Otlier favorite toys of the children 

 of both sexes are snow knives, which 

 are from four to fifteen inches long 

 and are made of ivory, bone, or wood, 

 the two first-named materials being 

 most commonly used. They are small 

 at the handle and expand toward 

 the end, usually curving upward and sometimes to one side. The mak- 

 ers frequently show great artistic skill in these objects; the handle 

 is often tipped with a carving representing the head of a salmon, gull, 

 seal, or other animal; the grip of the handle is insured by various pro- 

 jections, which sometimes consist of a series of three or more rounded 

 bosses pierced by a small hole in the middle, as in figure 2, plate xciv, 

 from the lower Yukon. This specimen is well carved from a piece of bone. 

 Figure 3, plate xciv, represents a large, handsomely made ivory 

 knife from Koniguuugumut; the raven totem mark is etched on each 



side; three projecting 

 knobs on the handle 

 are pierced and the 

 holes plugged with 

 wood. Another speci- 

 men, from Chalitmut 

 (figure 4, plate xciv), 

 is made of ivory and has four murre heads in relief on the handle; 

 the surface is ornamented with etched lines. An ivory knife from 

 Ikogmut (figure 7, platQ xciv) has two long, rounded projections extend- 

 ing forward from the butt. 



A large, handsomely made ivory knife from Kohigunugumut (figure 1, 

 plate XCIV) has on the under side of the handle five rounded projections 

 which are pierced for the insertion of plugs of wood; the raven totem 

 sign is etched on both sides. Figure 5, i)late xciv, illustrates an ivory 

 knife from Cape Vancouver, heavily etched on both sides ; on the handle 

 are three sets of concentric circles, pierced in the center and with 

 wooden plugs inserted in the holes. A deerhorn knife from Kushunuk, 

 represented in figure 9, plate xciv, has a long slit in the handle, in 



Fio. 132— Toy dogs and sled (about J). 



