TURNEE.] TOOLS. 319 



Awls (Fig. 142) are made of steel or iron. Tbe back or spring of a 

 pocketknife or a portion of a small file apiiears to be the favorite mate- 

 rial for forming them. They are nsnally chisel-shaped and have rectan- 

 gular corners. The handle into which the metal is fastened is gen- 

 erally of deer horn. The shajje of the handle varies from a Y 

 shape to that of n crescent. 



These tools are constantly required for jiiercing holes in the 

 various woods used in manufacture. Articles of simjjle con- 

 struction the Indian prefers to make for himself, rather than pay 

 an extortionate price to the trader. He is able to accomplish re- 

 markable results with rude tools of his own make. 



Snow shovels are made of wood and are much used, for dur 

 ing the winter, when the snows are constantly accumulating 

 around the camps, the occupants necessarily remove some to 

 form a pathway from the door of their tent, and as suow forms 

 an admirable protection, it is thrown or banked up around their 

 tents to prevent the wind from blowing under. In the spring 

 nearly all tlie aged people carry one of the wooden shovels to 

 clear away a path or as a help to walk while the slushy snow is 

 so treacherous. Fig. 143 represents a common form of wooden 

 snow shovel. These are often painted with vermillion or indigo. 



Fig. 144 shows a special form of snow shovel designed for 

 cleaning the ice from the holes throiTgh which the people tish. It 

 usually has a blade made from the brow antler or one of the 

 broad palms from the horns of the reindeer. The horn portion 

 is attached to the wooden shaft or handle by meaiis of thongs 

 running through holes bored for that purpose. 



The icepicks (Fig. 145) used in times gone by were iiieces of 

 I'eindeer horn or bone, shaped like a narrow mortising chisel and 

 attached to staffs of wood. The chisel or pick was fastened to 

 the staff by means of stout thongs to prevent a side movement 

 from the groove into which it was set. The upper end of the 

 staff was at times shod with bone or horn so as to be available 

 for a walking staff. 



The ice-pick of the present day has a piece of iron or steel 

 substituted for the horn or bone; but, being heavy, it is not so 

 often carried from place to place. An Indian will in an incredi- 

 bly short time pierce a hole through 3 feet thickness of ice with tf 

 it. A white man can not equal them in this work. fig.us. 



Combs for the hair are purchased fi om the traders. They are highly 

 prized and are Icept in little birchbark bags. For cleaning out the 

 dirt which collects on the comb the tail of a porcupine is used. The 

 needles or spines are picked out of the tail, leaving the stiff, coarse 

 hairs, which serve the purpo.se of cleaning the comb quite well. This 

 tail is usually appended to the comb-case. 



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