Eskimo String Figures 



15 b 



III. A Bbown Beab Issuing From a Cave 



This figure I saw among the Mackenzie Eskimos only. Boas has it from 

 Cumberland sound with the naiae anesattookjew, which seems to mean "the one 

 who is sent out." 



This is a combination of "the two brown bears" by the Mackenzie method, 

 and "the two caves." With the one thumb take up the pendent loop from the 

 proximal side, with the other from the distal, and proceed as in those figures. 

 You have "the cave" on one side and "the brown bear" on the other. 



■- -- '^ '^ 



Fig. 5 



IV. The Two Mountain Sheep 



This figure is called "the two mountain sheep" {imne-k) by the Barrow and 

 Inland Eskimos. A Port Clarence native, however, called it "the two rabbits," 

 while to a Diomede Islander it was known as "the two caribou with their horns." 

 (This was the native who called "the two brown bears" (No. 1), "the caribou 

 without their horns.") The Mackenzie and Coronation gulf Eskimos called 

 the figure "the two brown bears with their ears." Boas has the same figure 

 from Cumberland sound with the name nepetakjew, "two animals mating?" 



Fig. 6 



Make "the two brown bears." Remove the thumb loops to the indices. 

 With the back of each thumb take up from the proximal side the proximal hind 

 leg string of each bear. Repeat all the movements of "the two brown bears" 

 from the point where you katilluik the thumbs. At the final stage you have 

 "the two mountain sheep." 



