146 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT (ETH. ANN. 18 
common to the stone points of these weapons. Usually the shafts of 
these lances are plain, but a specimen (number 33891) from Norton 
sound, has a finger-rest of bone bound midway on the shaft. 
The other form of lance is a peculiar one used along the coast of Nor- 
ton sound, about Nunivak island, and in the region lying between the 
mouths of Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers. It is from 4 to 44 feet in 
length and has a walrus ivory butt from 20 to 24 inches in length fas- 
tened to the end of the wooden shaft. The end of the butt has two 
holes, through which a sinew cord is passed and wound tightly around 
the junction of the two parts of the shatt. The head has a round hole 
for the reception of the point, which is held in position by a stout 
lashing of sinew cord. F 
Figure 2, plate LV), represents a specimen of this kind of lance 
obtained on Nunivak island. It has a butt made from a walrus tusk, 
along each side of which is etched a long, slender figure of an animal, 
having a blue bead inlaid for the eye; the tip of the butt is shaped to 
a tapering point. In the wooden shaft, just above the ivory butt, a 
deerhorn peg is inserted for a finger-rest. 
Another example (number 168579) from Nunivak island has the ivory 
butt etched with the outline of along arm, with a hand at the lower 
end and the palm pierced. 
Figure 1, plate Lv), from Nunivak island, has a round bone head 
with three deep grooves extending around it, leaving four ridges ter- 
minating in a shoulder next to the shaft, bound in position by a cotton 
cord, evidently obtained from some trader. A long, tapering ivory butt, 
triangular in cross section, is fastened to the wooden shaft, and about 
the junction is a strong binding of cord similar to that used on the head. 
All the points used on these lances are detachable, and every hunter 
carries a Small bag made from sealskin or other hide, containing eight 
or ten additional points. 
Figure 17, plate Lvita, from the lower Yukon, is a fish-skin bag for 
holding a set of spearpoints. These points vary somewhat in char. 
acter, but are from 8 to 10 inches in length, with thin, triangular tips 
of stone, glass, iron, or other material. Sometimes the points are made 
of ivory or bone, but this is not common. Slate is perhaps most 
frequently used, and occasionally flint or iron points are seen. 
Figure 5, plate Lv b, from Chalitmut, is a lance with a wooden shaft 
on which a raven totem mark is incised. The point to this is of slate, 
beveled on both sides to a sharp edge, and set in a wooden foreshaft; 
with it is a wooden sheath, to slip over the point and protect it when 
not in use (figure 25, plate Lviia). Figure 27, plate LyILa, represents 
another form of these wooden sheaths for lance points. 
Figure 19, plate Lvi1a, shows a lance from Port Clarence, Bering 
strait. It has a wooden shaft, with a chipped flint point inserted in a 
slot in the end and held in position by a wrapping of whalebone. The 
upper end of the shaft is wrapped with whalebone to prevent splitting, 
and a small tuft of seal hair is inserted in a narrow slot on the side. 
