524 THE CENTRAL ESKIMO. ' 



to the eyeliole by a kind of loop, the short end being twisted around 

 tlie longer one. Kumlien described a needle of a very different 

 device (p. 25) : 



This tool was almost exactly like an awl in shape, but had an eye near the point. 

 They must have had to thread this instrument for each stitch. The needle part was 

 apparently of deer horn and the handle of walrus ivory. 



Probably it was used like a packing needle for sewing tent covers, 

 &c. The needles (mirqun) are kept in ivory needle cases (uml'u- 

 jang). The case represented in Fig. 471 is from a grave in Cumber- 

 land Sound. The grooves on both sides are evidently intended for 

 a leather strap which is to be tied around it. This specimen is closed 

 at the bottom and had a stopper for closing the mouth. Fig. 472 is 

 a more common pattern. The ivory piece forms a tube througb 

 which a leather strap passes. The needles are stuck into the leather 

 and drawn into the tube. Small ivory implements and ornaments 

 are attached to both ends of the strap. 



Fig. 473. Tikici or thimhle. (National Museum, Wasliington. 10181.) } 



Thimbles (tikiq) (Fig. 47.3) are made of an oblong piece of ground 

 sealskin, fitting to the point of the first finger. A rim is cut around 

 half of its circumference and thus it can be drawn over the finger. 

 The women sew by pulling the thread toward them and making an 

 overcast seam. 



Whalebone is used for making elastic thongs and in the jilaco of 

 wood; for example, for kayak ribs, for the rim of tin- ]<;iyak hole, 

 boxes, &c. It requires no particular preparation, beini;- cisily split 

 and shaped so as to fit any purpose. If wood is to be bent iuto hoops 

 or deer horn is to be straightened, it is made pliable by being put 

 into boiling water for some time. Bones of whales and other large 

 animals and the penis bone of the walrus are used instead of poles. 

 In olden times, when iron was extremely rare and an effective saw 

 could not be procured, they split the bone by drilling many holes, 

 one close to the other, afterwards breaking the pieces asunder. 



Small pieces of bone, used for arrows &c., were straightened, after 

 being steamed, with the implement represented in Fig. 474. 



The drill (Fig. 475) is the most important implement for working 

 in ivory and bone. It consists of three parts : the bow with its string 



