MURDOCH. ] NEEDLE CASES. 321 
Fig. 328 (No. 89364 (1243] from Utkiavwin) is another ivory needle 
case, 47 inches long. The tube was once ornamented with incised 
patterns, but these are almost wholly worn off by constant handling. 
The knob is carved into an ornamental shape, having a circle of six 
round knobs round the middle. It has been suggested that this is 
meant to represent a cloud-berry (Rubus chamemorus), a fruit known 
to the “Nunatanimiun” though not at Point Barrow. The hook is a 
snap hook very much like those described in connection with the netting 
weights, but larger (3 inches long) 
and very broad at the upper end, 
which is made into a broad ring. 
The point of a steel needle still stick- 
ing in the flesh side of the strap 
shows how the needles are carried 
with the points toward the knob. 
No. 89370 [1033], also from Utkiay- 
win, has no knob,but the end of the 
strap is kept from slipping through 
by rolling it up transversely and 
catching it with a stitch of sinew. 
It has a broad flat snap hook similar 
to the last, but cut on the edges into 
ornamental scallops. The tube is 
ornamented with an incised pattern 
colored red with ocher, and is 5:2 
long. No. 56575 [7] is an old tube of 
brown walrus ivory, enlarged into a 
knob at one end. It has no knob or 
hook, but a new strap of white seal 
skin, in the lower end of which is tied 
alarge knot. The other pattern has 
the cylinder made of a hollow “long” 
bone, inits natural shape. This bone 
appears to be almost always the hu- 
merus of some large bird, probably 
a swan. The strap has usually No Fia. 328.—Needle cases: (a) case with belt hook; 
knob, but is kept from slipping (b) case open, showing bone needles. 
through by knotting the end or tying on a large bead or a bear’s toe, or 
some such object too large to go through the tube. None of these have 
belt hooks except one new and roughly made specimen. 
These bone tubes are apparently older than the neat ivory cylinders, 
and it is not unlikely that the belt hook was not invented till the former 
was mostly out of fashion. No. 89361 [1239], Fig. 328) from Utkiavwin, 
is one of these which has for knob one of the large dark blue glass 
beads which used to bring such enormous prices in the early days of 
Aretie trading, and which are still the kind most highly prized. The 
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