162 THE POINT BARROW ESKIMO. 
pattern are very generally used among the western Eskimo, but in 
the east the blade is always separated from the handle by a short shank, 
as in our mincing knives. 
The natives of Point Barrow used round knives long before the intro- 
duction of iron. There are in the collection twenty-three more or less 
complete round knives of stone, most of which 
are genuine implements that have been used. 
Of these a few, which are perhaps the more 
recent ones, have blades not unlike the modern 
steel knife. For instance, No. 89680 [1106] Fig. 
120, has a blade of hard gray mica slate of al- 
most precisely the modern shape, but both 
faces are gradually worked down to the cut- 
ting edge without a bevel on either. The 
handle is very large and stout and made of 
coarse whale’s bone. This knife was said to have come from the ruined 
village at Pernyr. Fig. 121, No. 89679 [971], from Nuwik, was made 
for sale, but is perhaps a model of a form sometimes 
used. The shape of the blade is quite different from 
those now in use, in-having the cutting edge turned 
so strongly to the front. The handle is of oak and the 
blade of rather hard, dark purple slate. Fig. 122, 89689 
[985], also from Nuwtk, and made for the market, is 
introduced to show a method of hafting which may 
have been formerly employed. The haft is of reindeer Fic. 121.— Woman's 
antler in two longitudinal sections, between which peas ae 
the blade is wedged. These two sections are held together by lashings 
of sinew at each end, passing through holes in each piece and round the 
ends. These lashings being put on wet, have shrunk 
so that the blade is very tightly clasped between the 
two parts of the handle. The commoner form of 
these stone knives, however, has the back of the 
blade much longer, so that the sides are straight in- 
stead of oblique and usually round off gradually at 
: the ends of the cutting edge without being produced 
Fig.122.Woman’s knife, Lnto a point at either end. No. 89682 [953] is a form 
abiea nal intermediate between this and the modern shape, 
having a blade with a long back, but pro- 
duced into a sharp point at one end. The han- 
dle is of reindeer antler and the blade rather 
soft black slate. This specimen is a very cleverly 
counterfeited antique. 
No. 89636 [1122], Fig. 123, approaches yet 
nearer the ancient shape, but still has one end aot eae 
slightly produced. The handle is also of reindeer * “slate blade. 
antler, which seems to haye been very commonly used with the slate 
blades. The lashing round the blade close to the handle is of seal 
Fic. 120.—Woman’s knife, slate 
blade. 
knife, 
of 
