62 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [ETH. ANN. 18 
it is hollow and has an ivory pin passing through its base, to which a 
cord may be attached. 
In addition to the button-like objects described, other belt fasteners 
are made in the form of hooks. These vary from plain hooks, as in 
plate XXvIt, 30, to the elaborately carved forms shown in this plate. 
Figure 26, from Agiukchugumut, has its surface marked by incised 
lines inclosing the eye at the base of the hook, passing thence to a 
point, where they unite. <A similar but larger specimen is more elab- 
orately ornamented on its surface. 
Figure 27, from Chalitmut, represents a fish, and has an incision 
along tne entire length, following its outline. 
Figure 23, also from Chalitmut, is a square, flattened piece of ivory 
with a slit-like notch cut in on one side to a hole in the center, and 
with a beveled edge on one face. Both surfaces are marked by heavily 
incised lines. 
Figure 28, from the mouth of the Yukon, is a rudely made hook with 
the head of an animal carved upon the outer end, the.other end being 
pierced by a hole for the cord; along the back of the animal, from 
between the ears, extends an incised line, from which other lines 
extend diagonally down the'sides as though outlining segments. 
Figure 29, from the northern end of Norton sound, is a curiously 
made hook in the shape of a human figure, represented as sitting on 
its legs with the body bent forward and the head supported by the 
hands placed on either side of the face; the area inclosed between the 
neck and the arms serves for attaching the belt cord, and the legs 
extending forward and upward parallel to the body serve as a hook 
for insertion into the opposite loop. : 
Figure 9, from Kushunuk, represents a rudely outlined, grotesque 
human figure. 
Figure 30, from Agiukchugumut, shows a plain hook with an eye 
for the cord and two lines etched along the surface, surrounding the 
eye and following the outline. 
The men and boys wear belts of various kinds. Sometimes these 
may be simply a rawhide cord or strap of tanned skin; more com- 
monly, however, they are made of the skin taken from the feet of a 
wolverine or wolf, the claws being left on. It is soft-tanned without 
removing the hair and the edges are sewed together to make a continu- 
ous band; on the back is sewed the skin of the animal’s head, the 
nose being attached to the belt and the tail fastened to the lower end. 
These belts are highly prized, and it is very seldom that a man or a 
boy, unless he be very poor, does not possess his wolverine or wolf-skin 
belt. It is supposed to give the wearer a certain strength and prowess 
similar to those qualities in the animal from which the skin was taken. 
Belts representing the totem animal of the owner are also worn, and 
sometimes the mummified bodies of the little weasel are attached to them 
in front, in the belief that some of the animal’s prowess will be conveyed 
