104 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [ETH. ANN. 18 
Figure 31, from the lower Yukon, is a tube with the head of a walrus 
in relief on each of two sides near one end and the head of a seal on 
the other end. 
Figure 28, from Kotzebue sound, is of ivory in the shape of a small 
flask closed by a wooden stopper. The wooden bottom is held in place 
with wooden pegs. In relief on one side of the neck is the figure of a 
right whale, and on opposite sides are two bears. 
Needle-cases are sometimes used without stoppers, in which case a 
large cord of sealskin is passed through the center, which terminates 
in a hook of boue or ivory for holding thimbles, or hung to it by small 
cords are various little pendent ornaments, which consist sometimes 
of the canine teeth of various animals, but are often small carvings 
representing arrowheads, human faces, miniature belt fasteners, and 
various animal forms. When this style of needle-case is used the needles 
are thrust into the sealskin cord and are drawn into the case by pulling 
on the other end of the cord, and when needed can be withdrawn by a 
reverse movement. 
Figure 25, obtained on Norton sound by Mr L. M. Turner, is a good 
example of this style of needle-case with sealskin needle holder. 
Figure 26, from St Michael, is a small, neatly carved needle-case pend- 
ant representing a reindeer’s foot. 
Figures 22, 23, and 27 represent a number of these small pendants, 
all of which were obtained at Kushunuk. The last mentioned is in the 
form of a frog with a large head but without the fore-limbs. 
WOMEN’S “HOUSEWIVES” 
The little cases or bags for materials used in sewing and for other 
articles for women’s work, commonly called “housewives,” are in general 
use among the western Eskimo. They are made from skins of various 
kinds and embellished with needlework in ornamental patterns. The 
lower end terminates usually in a bag and the upper end is rounded; 
to the latter a rawhide cord is attached, having at its end a slender 
cross-piece of bone, ivory, or deerhorn from three to eight inches in 
length, which is generally carved into various designs with the inge- 
nuity characteristic of these people. When notin use the “housewife” 
is rolled up, the cord is wound several times around it and fastened by 
thrusting one end of the cross-piece under the cord. 
A specimen of these housewives from Kaialigamut (number 37918) 
is made from the skin of reindeer ears and pieces of skin from other 
parts of the same animal. The upper end is rounded and trimmed with 
stripes of white, black, and russet leather parallel to the curved edge, 
the seams being sewed in black and white. The lower end terminates 
in a bag, the inner surface of which is divided into square sections by 
double rows of stitching, along which are painted bordering red lines. 
Along the outer edges is a narrow strip of white reindeer fur succeeded 
by a little strip of plucked beaver, outside of whieh is a coarse fringe 
made from little strips from the edge of the skin of reindeer ears. 
