MURDOCH. ] SEAL INDICATORS—STOOL. 255 
seen in use. We collected two specimens, of which No. 56507 [104], 
Fig. 255a, will serve as the type. It is of walrus ivory, 144 inches long 
and 0-3 in diameter, with a small lanyard of sinew. The curved cross 
piece of ivory, 14 inches long, is inserted into a slot one-fourth of an 
inch from the end and secured by a little treenail of wood. 
Fig. 255b (No. 89454 [1114], from Nuwittk) is a similar indicator, 134 
inches long and flat (0-3 inch wide and 0-1 thick). The upper end 
is carved into scallops for ornament and has a small eye into which 
FiG. 255.—Seal indicators. 
was knotted a bit of whalebone fiber. The tip is beveled off with a 
concave bevel on both faces to a sharp edge, so that it can be used for 
a “feather setter” (igugwau) in feathering arrows. Such implements 
are mentioned in most popular accounts of the Eskimo of the east, 
and Capt. Parry describes it from personal observation at I glulik.' I 
have been unable to find any mention of its use in western America, 
and have seen no specimens in the National Museum. 
Sealing stools —When a native is watching a seal-hole he frequently 
has to stand for hours mo- i 
tionless on the ice. His feet 
would become exceedingly 
cold, in spite of the excel- 
lence of his foot covering, 
were it not for a little three- 
legged stool about 10 inches 
high upon which he stands. 
This stool is made of wood, 
with a triangular top just 
large enough to accommo- 
date a man’s feet, with the 
heels together over one leg 
of the stool, and the other 
two legs supporting the toes 
of each foot, respectively. Fig. 256.—Sealing stool. 
The stool is neatly made, and is as light as is consistent with strength. 
It is universally employed and carried by the hunter, slung on the gun 
cover with the legs projecting behind. 
When the hunter has a long time to wait he generally squats down 
so as almost to sit on his heels, holding his gun and spear in readiness, 
and wholly covered with one of the deerskin cloaks already described. 
They sometimes use this stool to sit on when waiting for ducks to fly 
over the ice in the spring. 
“1Second Voyage, p- 510; also pl. opposite p- 550, Fig. 17. : 
