318 



THE HUDSON BAY ESKIMO. 



handed persons have the bhade formed to suit themselves. It is set iu 

 a handle curved from the user and bent upward like the blade. At the 

 end of the handle is generally to be found a thong on which a wooden 

 button is placed for attachment to the belt, as uo man ever goes off on 

 a iourney without this knife, however short may be the distance. 



The handle is held iu the hand at right angles or across the body and 

 invariable drawn toward the user. It is employed for all purposes of 

 whittling or shaving wood and one would be surprised to observe what 

 large strips will separate when started with this apparently frail blade. 



Fig. 142.— Awl, Neneuot. 



Fig. 1-13. — Snow shovel, 

 Nenenot. 



Fig. 144 T('e-.scoop, 



Nenenot. 



The strips and slats of canoes, paddles, snowshoes, and in fact every- 

 thing that can be cut from wood, are made with this knife. It requires 

 much skill to guide the blade so as to cut the wood evenly; and to this 

 end the thumb, which is placed upon the outer extremity of the handle, 

 must steady the blade. The strain of the blade upon the handle is 

 very great, and it must be securely held by means of stoirt thongs 

 wrapped around it. 



The crooked knife is a form of instrument in use among the Indians 

 and Eskimo alike, and one of the few implements which those widely 

 differing j)eople have in common. 



