220 



THE HUDSON BAY ESKIMO. 



fioiii tlie paddle. Fig. 44, Xo. 90074, represents one of these long 



mittens, made of black tanned 

 sealskin, and edged with a strip 

 of liairy sealskin over an inch 

 wide. The back or upper x)or- 

 tion of the mitten is made of 

 a single piece of black skin, the 

 edge of which is crimped and 

 turned under to protect the An- 

 gers. The palm is a separate 

 piece,joinedtothe back piece, and 

 on it is a projecting part to form 

 the inner half of the thumb. The 

 outer half of the thumb and the 

 under side of the forearm are 

 made of a single piece, stitched 

 to the palm portion and that which 

 covers the back of the hand and 

 arm, so that, including the edging 

 of hairy skin, there are only four 

 pieces of skin entering into the 

 make of a pair of these mittens. 

 They are worn oiily by the men, 

 and only when they are engaged 

 in work where the hands would be immersed in water during cold 

 weather. As the skin from which they are made is the same as that 

 used fin- water-tight boots, it is obvious that no moisture can touch 

 the skill of the hand. 



For protection from rain and wet they wear over their other clothes 

 a waterproof hooded frock (Fig. 45) made of seal eutraDs, preferably 

 the intestines of the bearded seal {Erignathus harhatus). The intes- 

 tines of animals killed in October are considered the best for this pur- 

 pose. They then are not so fat and requu-e less dressing to clean them. 

 The contents are removed and tliey are filled with water and thor- 

 oughly washed out. The fat and other fleshy matter adhering are re- 

 moved by means of a knife used as a scraper. This being done, the in- 

 testine is inflated with air and strung along the tops of the rocks to dry. 

 When dry it is carefully flattened and rolled into tight bundles, like a 

 spool of ribbon, and laid away until wanted. 



Wlien required for use it is split longitudinally, and when spread 

 open is of variable width ft-om 3 to 5 inches, depending on the size of 

 the animal. The edges of the strips are examined and any uneven por- 

 tions are cut oil', making the strip of uniform width. There are three 

 separate pieces in a garment — the body and hood as one and the sleeves 

 as two. Sometimes the sleeves are made first and sometimes the body 

 is sewed first, and of this latter portion the hood is first formed. Strips 



Fm. 44. Long waterproof sealskin mitten. 



