Eskimo String Figures 51 b 



XLI. A Woman Pulling Another by the Hair 



This figure is known to the Inland natives as nuyaktomanaq, and to the 

 Mackenzie natives as nuyaktoyyuk, while in Cumberland sound Boas gives it 

 the name nooyatajew. All these have the same meaning, "hair-puller." The 

 Copper Eskimos have a figure superficially similar which they also call 

 nuyaktoyyuk, but it is really quite different and produced in a much simpler 

 manner (see next figure, No. XLII). 



Make "the burbot." 



Of the two strings which run from the upper transverse string to the palmar 

 string on each side, one makes a single loop round it, the other a double. 



With the back of each thumb from the proximal side take up the former of 

 these strings on each side. 



Katilluik the thumbs. 



With the back of each thumb take up from the proximal side the two 

 strings that run on each side from the upper to the lower transverse string. 



Remove the left thumb loops to the right thumb from the proximal side, 

 then draw over them the two original right thumb loops and place them on the 

 left thumb. 



With the thumbs from the proximal side take up the radial index strings, 

 navaho the thumbs and drop the index loops. 



From the palmar stting on each side there are two strings which run on the 

 proximal side to loop round the lower transverse string. With the back of each 

 thumb take up the two that are nearer to it. Katilluik the thumbs. You have 

 "the two women," one tugging the other's hair. If you sway the hands they 

 gradually, part in opposite directions. 



The Inland Eskimos as they sway their hands chant : 



nuyaktomanaq ta-tja Hair-pulling (?) 



nuyaktomanaq ta-ya Hair-pulling. 



aipiyokum nuyaydleya The other wife's hair she pulled it. 



imiqtayyumivXuyo Because she would not bring water, 



q£yuqtayyui.niv\uyo Because she would not bring wood, 



nuyaydleya She pulled her hair. 



The Mackenzie natives seem to have no chant. 



r -^ ■- *- ■■ — ^ 



Fig. 53 



72754— 4i 



