480 



that the realistic sense of the Eskimo has not failed him this 



time either. The drawing fig. 60, shows how the figure is to 



be conceived; not with the head in front and 



the tail behind, but with the head erected: a 



polar bear walking on its hind legs. The pointed 



ears are then found to have a significance; the 



fore paws are pressed closely to the body and 



„. ^„,. , , are not visible; on the other hand, the hind 

 Fig. 60 {inv. Amd. ' ' 



95). Bear carved legs are distinct enough. The upright position 

 in ivory. jg peculiar to the polar bear when it is sur- 

 rounded by the attacking hounds and stands at bay, ready 

 to defend itself with its teeth and front paws. The little work 

 of art is in its way quite unique ; the carver has endeavoured 

 to represent an animal figure which departs from the common 

 stereotyped forms of Eskimo art, like those of the watching 

 bears or swimming seals. That is perhaps why the result has 

 not been very satisfactory from an artistic point of view; but 

 it bears evidence of a personal sense of humour and a live- 

 liness of imagination. It is once again a Uttle manifestation 

 of the same delight in striking out new lines which we have 

 on several occasions observed in useful objects made by one 

 of the most isolated tribes of human beings in the world, which 

 none the less has evidently not lacked the impulse to carry 

 the traditions of their fathers a step further in the new regions 

 to which they have immigrated. 



Fig. 61. Bone split by borings. Ч2. 



Inv. Amd. 96 (Fig. 61), from Cape Tobin, is a bone 

 15'5cm in length, which has been split by means of drilling 

 from opposite sides. This has resulted in a flat side, where 

 the remains of the spongy soft interior of the bone are clearly 



