Eskimo String Figures 



23 b 



The Baillie island woman, who called the figure "the burbot," knew no 

 chant with it, nor have the Copper Eskimos, who call it "a snow-knife," any 

 song. They consider the triangle near the right hand to be the bone butt at the 

 extremity of the knife handle, the two transverse strings running parallel side 

 by side in the middle its handle, and the quadrilateral near the left hand the 

 blade. 



Fig. 16 



The Baillie island woman continued the figure to produce "a dog dragging 

 a sled" in the following manner: 



Replace the left thumb by the left index. 



From the radial left index string there is a string which runs to the middle, 

 and, passing through a loop, continues to the lower transverse string. 



With the palm of the left thumb, from the proximal side, draw down this 

 string, applying the thumb just below the upper transverse string; then with 

 the back of the same thumb take up the ulnar little finger string of that hand 

 and draw it through. 



Drop the left little finger loop and transfer the left thumb loop to the left 

 little finger from the proximal side. This gives you the sled on the left. 



Near the right hand there is a string which runs from the radial to the ulnar 

 little finger strings across the back of the little finger. Insert the right index 

 into the little finger loop from the distal side and with its palm raise up this 

 string. Now behind all the strings take up with the palm of the index the 

 radial right thumb string and navaho the index. 



Pass the right thumb down on the proximal side of all the strings, pressing 

 its ulnar string before it, and with the back of it from the proximal side take 

 up the ulnar little finger string. Drop the right little finger loop and transfer 

 the right thumb loop to the little finger from the proximal side. You have "the 

 dog" on the right dragging "the sled" on the left. 



