NELSON]> 
ICE STAFFS AND CREEPERS 
215 
the weight of the man is distributed over three points, and thus he 
Fia. 67—Ice stafi'(4). 
is often enabled to pass over places which 
otherwise would not support him. 
These staffs are alsoused in summer travel. 
During this season the tundras are covered 
with tussocks and soft beds of sphagnum, 
which render walking excessively laborious 
and difficult. By use of the staff the traveler 
is enabled to walk more safely, and by lessen- 
ing the weight on his feet, does not sink so 
deeply in spongy patches of moss or in semi- 
marshy ground. 
Figure 67 illustrates one of these ice staffs 
from Cape Nome. 
An ice staff from Point Barrow (figure 68) 
consists of a round wooden staff nearly five 
feet in length, the lower end being tipped 
with a cap of ivory, held in place by a pin 
through its base. Through the upper end is 
a hole, in which is a sealskin loop for hang- 
ing the staff on the wrist. 
ICE CREEPERS 
Ice creepers are used to prevent the feet 
from slipping while traveling over the sea 
ice or frozen snow in spring. In some of 
them the central groove is deepened to form 
an oblong slot, piercing through, and on 
others the points are formed in groups near 
each end. 
Figure 69 (3) represents a pair of ice creep- 
ers from Cape Darby, consisting of small, flat, 
oblong ivory rods 34 inches in length, with 
the upper surface slightly rounded and the 
lower side having a deep, flat groove extend- 
ing lengthwise along the middle, leaving 
two high ridges that are crossed by deep 
grooves, producing a row of pyramidal points 
along each edge. The ends are provided 
with two holes, in which are fastened the 
rawhide cords by which the creepers are 
attached to the sole of the boot. 
A pair of ice creepers from St Lawrence island (figure 69, 5) 
are in the form of flat, ivory bars, about 4 inches long and an 
inch wide. Hight small holes are drilled into the lower sur- 
face, in which are inserted small, round-pointed iron spikes; there are 
Fic. 68—Ice 
stai? (4). 
