Eskimo String Figures 



35 B 



The Inland natives then say: 



ukaUq kaxlaluk ukaUq kaxlaluk Rabbit 



and with the left index from the distal side draw out the upper transverse string, 

 taking it up between the head and body of the rabbit and dropping the left 

 thumb loop. Then they add: 



ac'iuman pLCik-a Because he was bad he shot it. 



and with the left thumb draw out the lower transverse string from between the 

 rabbit's legs, with the words: 



dhyinam ak-a skinned it. 



In the final stage you have the man who skinned it. 



Fig. 31 



XXV. The Caribou in the Willows 



This figure, which comes from Barrow, is a modification of the previous one, 

 since after the opening movements have been made all the subsequent steps 

 are the same. The opening is found in two other figures, the Indian point figure 

 taydrot (see No. LXII) and "the breast bone" (see No. CXLVIII), the latter 

 being a figure that is known all along the coast from Barrow to Hudson bay. 



Loop behind the thumbs, middle fingers and little fingers. Bring the hands 

 together and with the index and ring fingers of each hand take up the palmar 

 index and ring finger strings of the opposite hand, then draw the hands apart. 



Proceed exactly as in "the rabbit" (No. XXIV) after Opening A has been 

 made in that figure. 



At the conclusion you have "the caribou amongst the willows." The 

 Barrow natives say, tu-tuyoq onayoqman uq-pilicimaqtoaq dan niy\a-yman aulaqtoq, . 

 "The caribou, it is said, when it became hot, stayed in the willows, but when it. 

 grew cool it went away." 



Fig. 32 



Drop the middle and ring finger loops and you have the caribou going away 

 (the same figure as in "the rabbit or caribou"). 



72754—34 



