MURDOCH. } ARROWS—ARROW RELEASE. 207 
is often replaced by an empty cartridge shell, which makes a very good 
head. Ihave seen a phalarope transfixed at short range by one of these 
vartridge-headed arrows. Anassortment of the different kind of arrows 
is usually carried in the quiver. The lot numbered 25, from Nuwitk, 
which I believe to be a fairly average set, contains two flint-headed 
bear arrows, one barbed bear arrow with a steel pile, six bear arrows 
with iron piles, one deer arrow, two fowl arrows, and one bird arrow. 
As I have already said, all these arrows are flattened above and below 
at the nocks. This indicates that they were intended to be held to the 
string and let go after the manner of what is called the “Saxon release,” 
namely, by hooking the ends of the index and second fingers round the 
string and holding the arrow between them, the string being released 
by straightening the fingers. This is the “release” which we actually 
saw employed both by the boys and one or two men who showed us how 
to draw the bow. This method of release has been observed at Cum- 
berland Gulf! and at East Cape, Siberia, and is probably universal 
among the Eskimo, as all the Eskimo arrows in the National Museum 
are fitted for this release. There is ample material in the Museum col- 
lections for a comparative study of Eskimo arrows, which I hope some 
day to be able to undertake, when the material is in a more available 
condition. One or two references to other regions will not, however, be 
out of place. The arrow with a barbed bone after-pile seems a very 
general form, being represented in the Museum from most of the 
Alaskan regions, as well as from the Mackenzie. Scoresby mentions 
finding the head of one of these at the ancient settlements in east 
Greenland. The arrow, however, described by Capt. Parry? has a real 
foreshaft of bone, not a barbed after pile. One of these arrows from 
the Mackenzie has the after pile barbed on both sides, the only instance, 
I believe, in the Museum of a bilaterally-barbed Eskimo arrow where 
the pile is not wholly of metal. 
Bow cases and quivers.—The bow and arrows were carried in a bow 
case and quiver of black sealskin, tied together side by side and slung 
across the back in the same manner as the gun holster already de- 
scribed. We obtained one case and quiver which belong with the bow 
and arrows (No, 25, from Nuwittk) and a single quiver with the bow and 
arrows (No. 234, from Sidaru.) The case, No. 89245 [25], Fig. 190a 
(pizi’/ksizax), is y such a shape that the bow can be carried in it strung 
and ready for use. It is made by folding lengthwise a piece of plaek 
sealskin with the flesh side in and sewing up one side “over and over’ 
from the outside. The bag is wide enough—6 inches at the widest 
part—to allow the bow to slip in easily when strung, and the small end 
Tn shooting this weapon the string is pl a on the first joint of the first and second fingers of the 
right hand."’. (Kumlien, Contributions, p. 37.) 
* Beim Spannen wird der Pfeil nicht zwischen Daumen und Zeigetinger, sondern zwischen Zeige. und 
Mittelfinger gehalten,” Krause Brothers, Geographische Blitter, vol. 5, p. 33. 
2Voyage to the Northern Whale Fishery, p. 187. 
32d Voyage, p. 511, and figured with the bow (22) on Pl. opposite p. 550. 
