330 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT _ (ETH. ANN. 18 
The last battle fought between the Yukon people and the Magemut 
was about the time the Russians first established themselves at St 
Michael. This fight took place on a flat piece of ground at the head of 
the northern branch of the Yukon mouth. Several low mounds visible 
on this little flat are said to mark the places where the dead were left 
in a heap after the battle. 
In ancient times the Eskimo of Bering strait were constantly at war 
with one another, the people of the Diomede islands being leagued with 
the Eskimo of the Siberian shore against the combined forces of those 
on King island and the American shore from near the head of Kotze- 
bue sound to Cape Prince of Wales and Port Clarence. An old man 
from Sledge island told me that formerly it was customary among the 
people of the Siberian coast to kill at sight any Eskimo from the Ameri- 
can shore who might have been driven by storm across the strait, 
either in umiaks or on the ice. 
I was also informed that at one time the inhabitants of the lesser 
Diomede island became angry with those of the greater Diomede 
island and united with the people of Cape Prince of Wales against 
them, but were defeated. ‘The last war party in this district came in 
a fleet of umiaks from East cape, Siberia, and the Diomede islands, 
and sailed up Port Clarence, but meeting a large force of the American 
Eskimo, both sides agreed upon a peace, which has not since been 
broken. 
During the wars formerly waged among the people living on the 
coasts and islands of Bering strait, there was in common use a kind of 
armor made of imbricated plates of walrus ivory fastened together with 
sealskin cords. Plate xcrr illustrates a nearly complete set of this 
body armor, which was obtained on the Diomede islands. 
Plates of ivory for armor of this kind were seen on St Lawrence 
island, and on the Siberian shore at Cape Wankarem. 
The people about the shores of Norton and Kotzebue sounds were 
also familiar with the use of armor in ancient times. During my resi- 
dence at St Michael two or three of the natives who lived turbulent 
lives were reputed to have worn light iron armor under their fur frocks, 
which it was claimed had been purchased from vessels, and from the 
description must have been shirts of chain mail. 
GAMES AND TOYS 
The Eskimo of the lower Yukon, the Alaskan coast district of Bering 
sea, and the Arctic ocean have a considerable variety of games, both 
for outdoor and indoor amusement, and most of them have a wide 
range. The following detailed descriptions of some of them, although 
taken mainly from the Unalit of Norton sound, represent games found 
among other tribes. The greater portion of them are played while the 
men are confined to the villages during the short, cold days of winter. 
In the vicinity of St Michael and some other trading stations the 
Eskimo have learned to play cards, usually poker, and are passionately 
