Eskimo Stririg Figures 37 b 



Pass the thumbs over the radial index strings and take up with them from 

 the proximal side the two radial ring finger strings. 



Drop the index loops. 



With the palm of the right index from above take up the two radial right 

 thumb strings. 



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

 back take up the two strings that run from the left palmar string to loop round 

 the upper transverse string. 



Drop the thumb loops. 



Insert the left thumb under the radial left index strings and with its back 

 take up the two strings that run from the left palmar string to loop round the 

 upper transverse string. 



Insert the right thumb from the proximal side into the left thumb loops, 

 then with each thumb from the proximal side take up the radial index string of 

 its hand, navaho the thumbs and drop the index loops. 



A triangle is formed in the middle, just below the transverse string. 



Pass the left index into this from the distal side and with its palm take up 

 the lower transverse strings and return. 



Drop the right little finger loops, and, passing that finger from the proximal 

 side into the left thumb loops, transfer to it from the distal side the left index 

 loops and return. 



With the backs of the indices separate the two radial strings on each thumb. 

 You have "the raven," with its head to the right. 



The Barrow natives then sing: 

 qyo-qyo-qyo 

 and, dropping the right little finger loop, continue: 



qi'miajoaloayoq hyipqaya His pet dog, they say, made it fly away. 



If you point the right index down you see "the dog" over near the left hand. 



They add, dropping the left little finger loop, and opening out the hands, 

 palms upwards: 



nuviyalukumiayun qolautcaja To his cloud he (the raven) passed over 



it. 



"The cloud" is seen, also near the left hand. 



Finally they add, dropping the left index loops: 



dnayvalutatjayoq aqcyalukdtaqtoq Its ordure, they say, rolled away. (It 



travels over to the right.) 



From Indian point comes the chant: 

 puyukalika puyukcHika-a-a Raven, raven 



qdmiyaiyiya-a-a Little dog 



caliyaiyiya-a-a Female raven 



aynayaiyiya-a-a Little daughter 



(i.e. a pup was watching a pair of ravens and their young one.) 



An Inland Eskimo from the Endicott mountains chanted these words: 

 qyo-qyo- qi'miayoaloaluyoq "Kro kro. His pet dog, they say, made 



Uyipqaqpa anakovaldtandyuyoq it fly away .... went underneath. 



dtautcaqpa The fog gathered over it." 



nuvuyalukuviana/yuyoq 



qolautcaqpa 



