ESKIMO SEWING IMPLEMENTS 



i23 



whicli tliey are again scraped with the tesirqun. This done, the flesh 

 side is wetted, the skin is wrapjied up for half a day or a day, and 

 afterwards undergoes a new scraping. Then it is chewed, rubbed, and 

 scraped all over, thus acquiring its pliability, softness, and light color. 



In the spring the skins of bears and of seals are sometimes dried 

 on large frames which are exposed to the sun, the skins being tied to 

 the frames with thongs. Smaller quadrupeds, as foxes and ermines, 

 are skinned by stripping the entire animal through its mouth with- 

 out making a single cut in the skin. Bii'ds are opened at the breast 

 and the body is taken out through this small hole, the head, wings, 

 and legs being cut off at the neck and the other joints. Ducks are 

 frequently skinned by cutting the skin around the head and the 

 outer joints of the wings and legs and stripping it off. The skins 

 are cleaned by sucking out the fat and chewing them. 



Skins of salmon are used for water proof bags; intestines of seals, 

 particularly those of grorind seals, luv carefully dried and after being- 

 sewed together are used for sails, windows, and kayak jackets. 



Sv 



Fig. 471. Ivory nee- 

 Fig. 470. Ivory nee- die case from Cumber- 

 le. (National Mu- land Sound. (Museum 

 euni, Washington, (iir Viillierkimde, Ber 

 41.35.) \ Im. mn.) \ 



Fia. 472. Common patten 

 (From Parry n, p. MS. ) 



of needle ease Iglulili. 



SUNDRY IMPLEMENTS. 



The sewing is done with thread made of deer or white whale 

 sinews. Particularly are those sinews at the back dried and wlieii 

 intended for use they can easily be split as thin as required. At present 

 steel needles are in general use. Wherever they are wanting ivory 

 ones of the same pattern are used (Fig. 4r0). The thread is fastened 



