44 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [ETH. ANN. 18 
use as a drawstring in closing the bag. The bottom is oval in outline 
and has a piece of fishskin sewed into it, with the seam inside. These 
bags are in common use from the lower Yukon to the lower Kuskokwim. 
Figure 7 (1) represents a handsomely ornamented bag from St Michael, 
made from the skins of salmon trout. The bottom of the bag is fash- 
ioned from a piece of deerskin with the hair side inward. The sides 
are ornamented with strips of white, parchment-like leather made from 
the gullets of large seals. These strips are edged with narrow bands 
of russet-color leather, sewed with orna- 
mental seams of black and white. On 
each of four upright white bands which 
cross the side of the bag are sewed two 
circular pieces and a four-pointed piece 
ot the shiny black skin of the sea-wolf, 
the round pieces being edged with strips 
of russet skin. 
Figure 8 represents a sealskin clothing 
bag from Sledge island. It is made from 
the skin of the ribbon seal, taken off 
entire, including both flippers. The nose 
and the eyes are sewed up; the only open- 
ing is a cut extending crosswise between 
the fore flippers. The edges of this cut 
are bound with a border of stout raw- 
hide, pierced with holes at intervals of 
about two inches, through which is run a 
strong rawhide cord for lacing the open- 
ing. This skin is tanned with the hair 
left on. 
Bags of this character are made from 
skins of all of the smaller seals, and are 
useful for storing clothing from the fact 
that their shape makes them convenient 
for handling in umiaks or while on 
sledge journeys; at the same time their 
: i waterproof character serves to protect 
Fic. 8—Clothing bag of sealskin (4). the contents from getting wet. Every 
; family has from one to three of these 
bags, in which are kept their spare clothing, dressed skins, and valu- 
able furs. 
PERSONAL ADORNMENT 
LABRETS 
The wearing of labrets and the custom of tattooing are very general 
among the Eskimo of the Alaskan mainlaud and islands northward 
from Kuskokwim river. The style of the labrets, as with the extent 
and the pattern of tattooing, varies with the locality. The custom of 
