338 



West coast just mentioned, pronounced differences, both liguisti- 

 cally and anthropologically, are observable, particularly between 

 the Upernawik Eskimo and those further south. 



On the other hand, we find in North East Greenland cer- 

 tain forms of implements which differ in certain particulars 

 from the West Greenland types, and seem to point further to 

 the west. This is the case with the sledges, the bone foreshafts 

 of the larger weapons, the drum handles made of bone, perhaps 

 also the ornamental teeth used as belts and necklaces. In 

 the remarkable preservation of these types, we see a decided 

 manifestation of conservatism, more so in this part of Greenland 

 than on the West coast, where the immigrated Eskimo probably 

 soon came into contact with Europeans (the Icelanders in the 

 Middle Ages), or for other reasons modified at an early date 

 certain of those implements which were typically common to 

 the whole race. 



Side by side with these indications of great antiquity in 

 the culture of East Greenland, there are others which point to 

 independent innovations. We find here a quaint wooden im- 

 plement {inv. Amd. 99) the nature and use of which is un- 

 known, probably some kind of boring or stabbing instrument, 

 which is found only in North East Greenland, though in a 

 sufficient number of specimens to allow of its being set down 

 as a fully developed form of implement invented within this group 

 of Eskimo during the time when they were settled on the East 

 coast. The loose bone points on the shaft of the bird-dart have 

 also a characteristic feature, a lateral barb on the outer side, 

 which is peculiar to the North East Greenland type. The low 

 key-shaped ridge which passes across the under side of the 

 sealing-stools, nay the whole form of this implement, seems to 

 have been characteristic for this region of the Eskimo world. 

 The pattern of the buckle used by the kaiaker for holding the 

 skin skirt round the man-hole in the kaiak tight about his body 

 is found in several places within this stretch of coast, but not 



