Eskimo String Figures 



29 b 



XVIII. Two Dogs Feeding Out of One Bowl 



This figure is known from the Kobuk river in northern Alaslta all along the 

 coast to Coronation gulf. The Alaskan natives call it "two dogs feeding out of 

 one bowl" (poyiitaq atautaq qi'miayuk dluptuk). In the Mackenzie the natives 

 say: qim-ik ukwak aluk ukwak iUyman quqciyik, "Those two dogs, those who 

 are feeding, when he — their master — came in he cried quq quq to drive them 

 out." The Coronation gulf natives call the figure qim-ik dluktoyyuk, "two dogs 

 feeding." 



Make "the little finger." 



With the backs of the index fingers push out the two strings that form on 

 each side the sides of the triangle, hook their palms over the base of the triangle, 

 and point them out again. 



Katilluik the thumbs. 



Remove the thumb loops to the indices from the distal side and circle them 

 clockwise. You have "the two dogs feeding." 



(Drop the index loops and you have "the little finger" again.) 



Fig. 23 



XIX. The Young Man Feeding his Dog (Inland Eskimos of North Alaska) 



This figure is a combination of the two preceding. With the left index take 

 up the base of the triangle in the same manner as in "the two youths," with 

 the right index as in "the two dogs." Continue as in those figures, and you have 

 "the young man" on one side and "the dog" on the other. 



(Drop the index loops and you have "the little finger" again.) 



Fig. 24 



