BOAS] SEAL HUNTINO. 



The natives carry this implement on all their 

 winter excnrsions, as it is serviceable for numer- 

 ous purposes. It is always kept within reach on 

 the sledge, as the strong iron point is useful for 

 cutting down hummocks, should any obstruct the 

 passage of the sledges, or for cutting holes through 

 the ice, or it takes the place of a hatchet in break- 

 ing the frozen meat which is carried along for 

 dogs' food. The long iron rod is extremely useful 

 in trying the strength of the ice or the depth of 

 the snow. By taking precautionary measures of 

 this kind the natives pass over extensive floes of 

 weak ice. 



The head belonging to the unang is called nau- 

 lang. Since iron has been introduced in Baffin 

 Land and Hudson Bay, the natives file their har- 

 poon heads out of it, but adhere almost exactly to 

 the old pattern. The old naulang was ciit out of 

 bone or more frequently out of ivory (Fig. 392). 

 It was one inch to two inches long and had a piece 

 of metal inserted into the slit at the top. Through 

 the middle of the instrument a hole was drilled 

 parallel to the jDlane of the blade. The harpoon 

 line passed through the hole, and as soon as the 

 point struck an animal and a strain was put upon 

 the line it turned at a right angle to the latter, 

 thus acting as a toggle. The effect was increased 

 by two points at the lower end of the naulang, 

 called luniuL;- (biMrd). The.se pressed into the flesh 

 or the skill ^A' the animal and prevented the har- 

 poon head from slipping back. 



The modern naulang (Fig. 393) is about the same 

 length as the old one, but much more slender. 

 While the back of the old pattern was straight, 

 the points of the iron one are bent outward and 

 backward in order to increase its effect. 



The naulang is fastened to the harpoon line 

 (iparang). This part of the instrument is much 

 longer than the unang, as it must allow for the 

 struggles of the diving seal. The end of the line 

 passes throiigh the hole of the naulang and a looj) 

 is formed and secured by deer sinew or arranged as 

 may be seen in Fig. 393. At a distance equal to the 

 length of the iron rod of the unang a small thong 

 (taguta) is attached to the line and serves to fasten ] 

 it to the shaft (see Fig. 391). It is drawn through : 



473 



lang oi h-xipoon head 

 ("Huseura fui \ olkei kun 

 de Berlin I\ \ W)i ) J 



