Eskimo Siring Figures 31 b 



Dr. Gordon's figure "No Name" reproduces all the movements of this 

 figure up to the final stage, which his informant (a King island native) had 

 evidently forgotten. Boas has a figure from Cumberland sound called teratchea, 

 "the ermine"; it differs very slightly from "the beaver" and may have been 

 produced in much the same way. 



Make "the little finger." 



With the backs of the indices from the distal side push out the side strings 

 of the triangle.* 



Drop all but the index loops, and inserting the remaining three fingers of 

 each hand into them from the distal side, release the indices and reinsert them 

 from the distal side. 



Now lay the right hand loops over the left index so that the two ulnar right 

 index strings (i.e. the upper transverse strings) become the distal radial left 

 index strings and the two radial right index strings the proximal ulnar left index 

 strings. The right hand is thus released altogether. 



Pass the right index from the proximal side under the two distal radial left 

 index loops (the old right index loops) and hook it over the two distal ulnar left 

 index strings (the original radial left index strings); then point both indices 

 upwards so that they protrude through a small circle of double strings; separate 

 the two hands. 



With the left thumb from the distal side remove the left index loops. 



Pass the left little finger from below from the proximal side into the left 

 thumb loops and, pressing down the ulnar strings, allow the two lower trans- 

 verse strings to slip off; then hook the little finger down over them. 



Pass the left index from the distal side into the thumb loops and with its 

 palm draw through the two upper transverse strings. You have fig. 26. 



Fig. 26 



Over near the right hand on the back of the index there is a kind of knot 

 which readily opens out and is seen to be formed by two strings running per- 

 pendicularly and bounded above and below by two looping strings. 



Drop the left thumb loops and, passing that thumb into the left index loop 

 from the proximal side and moving it to the right, on the distal side of the two 

 strings that run from the left palmar string to cross the upper transverse string, 

 take up with its palm these two perpendicular strings. 



Drop the right index loops, and with that finger from the proximal side 

 remove the left thumb loops. 



Hold the right index loops in the right hand and turn the knuckles inwards. 

 You have "the beaver." 



