MURDOCH. ] AMULETS. 439 
jade adzes 5:1 inches, slung with thong and whalebone, making a becket 
by which it can be hung up. We did not learn the history of this 
amulet, which at the time of collecting it was supposed to be a net 
sinker. There would, however, be no reason for using so valuable an 
object for such a purpose, when a common beach pebble would do just 
as well, unless it was intended as a charm to insure success in fishing. 
It may even have been carried as a charm on the person, since we 
afterwards saw a still more bulky object used for such a purpose. 
Such an object seems rather heavy to be carried on the person, but 
a well known man in Utkiavwin always carried with him when he went 
sealing a large pear-shaped stone, which must 
have weighed upwards of two pounds, suspended 
somewhere about his person. It isnot unlikely 
that this stone acquired its virtue as an amulet 
from having been a sinker used by some lucky 
fisherman in former time or in a distant coun- & 
try. Mr. H.W. Henshaw has already referred to J 
the resemblance of this amulet to the plummet- Fs ae tte lele containing, 
like “‘medicine stones” of some of our Indians.! 3 
Fig. 426, (No. 89534 [1506] from Utkiavwin) is an amulet for success 
in whaling. It consists of three little irregular water-worn fragments 
of amber carefully wrapped in a bit of parchment and inclosed in a lit- 
tle wooden box 14 inches long, made of two semicylindrical bits of cot- 
tonwood, with the flat faces hollowed out and put together and fas- 
tened up by three turns of sinew braid round the middle, tied in a loose 
knot. The box is old and brown from age and handling. We heard 
of other pieces of amber and earth (“nuna”) worn as amulets, wrapped 
up in bits of leather and hung on the belt. 
No. 89533 [1247], from Utkiavwin, is simply a nearly square peb- 
ble, 1-4 inches long, of dark red jasper, slung in a bit of sinew braid 
so that it can be hung on the belt. Fig. 42 
(No. 89525 [1308] from Utkiavwin) is some small 
object, placed in the center of the grain side of a 
square bit of white sealskin, the edges of which 
are folded up around it and tied tightly round 
with deer sinew, so as to make a little round 
knob. I collected this amulet, and was particu- 
larly informed how it was to be used. If it be 
fastened on the right shoulder it will insure sue- 
cess in taking ducks with the “bolas.” Fig. 428 
Pan Toate GI (No. 89535 [1244] from Utkiavwin) is an amulet 
whose history we did not learn. It is a little ob- 
long box 5:3 inches long, carved from a block of cottonwood, with a 
flat cover tied on with nine turns of sinew braid, and contains twenty- 
one dried humble-bees, which it was said came from the river Kulu- 
! American Journal of Archeology, vol. 1. 
