314 



THE HUDSON BAY ESKIMO. 



placed as to have the fingers upward and the outside of the hand 

 toward the point, this rather awkward grasp enables the person to let 

 I go of the weapon in case of threatened disaster resulting 



fi-om a misdirected thrust. The collection also contains three 

 models of deer spears, I^os. 3205-3207. Tliese are often 

 also used as arrows to shoot at larger game when the In- 

 dian is out hunting ptarmigan, hares, and rabbits. A hun- 

 gry wolverene or a famished wolf would prove trouble- 

 some to kill with the blunt arrows. These models differ 



fi'om the larger spear 

 only in size. 



The Little Whale 

 river Indians use a 

 peculiar spear for kill- 

 ing white whales. 

 (Figs. 138, 139). It is 

 modeled after the Es- 

 kimoharpoon, but has 

 no "loose shaft," or 



Fig. 137.— Deer 

 lauce, Nenenot. 



Fia. 138.— Wliitf whale spear, 

 Little WlialB river. 



Fio. 139.— Point of white 

 whale spear enlarged. 



rather, the fore shaft and loose shaft are in one piece, and has a circu- 

 lar wooden disk fitted to the butt of the shaft, which takes the place of 

 the bladder float, and serves to impede the motions of the animal when 



