464 



lar ridge, which, however, is broken through on 

 both sides, on one side by a groove which runs 

 along the lower part of the implement, on the 

 other side by a narrow cut. On either side of 

 this cut and this groove, which lie along the 

 side surfaces of the handle, are seen some irre- 

 gular facets left by cuts, alternating with hacks 

 and low knobs. In the handle there are two 

 transverse holes converging from the upper side 

 towards each other, and meeting in a common 

 large hole on the under side. Is this curious 

 aperture meant for a looped strap into which the 

 person holding the stick as a fork stuck his hand, 

 thus obtaining a better purchase on it? The end 

 which points upwards in the illustration would 

 easily hold a piece of blubber or meat stuck on 

 it, and the small transverse grooves rifled on 

 the inner side of this end would serve to 

 strengthen the hold. 



If it is a fork, it may be compared to inv. 

 Amd. 49'^), which, however, it far surpasses in 

 elegance. However, it is quite possible that it 

 may be intended for a different object ('feather 

 setter', or 'seal indicator', cf. Murdoch) ^). 



Inv. Amd. 85 (Fig. 54), from Cape Tobin. 

 A lyrate buckle of white bone. A thin hexa- 

 gonal flat piece of bone. The lower part is 

 bounded by five straight sides ; the upper part 

 forms a corner, separated from the other part 

 by two fin-shaped wings, and edged by a line 

 which curves round three times. The buckle is 

 4"3 cm in length, 3*2 cm in breadth, and of 



Fig. 53. Blubber 



fork(?) of bone. 



С Tobin. 'Ь. 



1) Also Boas I, 563, fig. 517. 



2) Murdoch I, 255, fig. 255. 



