58 B Canadian Arctic Expedition, 1913-18 



XLVIII. The Kayak 



This is the figure described by Dr. Gordon from King island, to which he 

 gives the name, "kayak." It is known by the same name to the Barrow, Inland, 

 Mackenzie delta, west coast of Hudson bay and Cumberland sound Eskimos. 

 I could find no chant at Barrow, merely the words qayaq damutiya, "the ice 

 broke up the kayak," uttered while dropping the Uttle finger loops, when "the 

 kayak" disappears. The Inland natives from the Endicott mountains have a 

 chant for the figure, which is known also to the Mackenzie delta Eskimos. 



At Barrow the figure is produced more simply than by Dr. Gordon's method. 

 Whether the Mackenzie Eskimos follow the Barrow method or not I failed to 

 notice. The Barrow natives proceed as follows: 



Opening A. 



Pass the thumbs down proximal to the radial index strings and with their 

 backs from below take up the ulnar index strings. Release the indices. 



With the thumbs from the proximal side remove the little finger loops. 



Pass the little fingers from below from the proximal side into the thumb 

 loops and, moving them towards the middle, allow the lower transverse string 

 to slip off, then hook the little fingers down over it. 



(Hitherto the method is the same as Dr. Gordon's.) 



With the palms of the indices from the distal side turn out all the radial 

 thumb strings and release the thumbs. 



Allow the transverse string to slip over the tips of the indices, then, passing 

 each thumb through the index loop of its hand, take up with it this transverse 

 string from below and draw it out to the proximal side of all the strings. 



Katilluik the thumbs, then spread apart with the indices the two loops on 

 the thumbs. You have "the kayak." 



Fig. 62 



The Inland and Mackenzie chant is: 



qayajdtdaq A bad kayak 



yuyuyudtcidm qilaunoyatin . . came over the top of you. 



pautik-m ndpa\-uik Your double-bladed paddle hold it upright. 



kmyum Capsize. 



dnoqopdtdaq 



aqdluqotuyaqtaym Move along the ground. 



At the word dnoqopdtdaq drop the little finger loops. With the right thumb 

 from the proximal side take up the radial right index string. 



Navaho the right thumb and drop the index loop. 



The meaning of the word dnoqopdtdaq is unknown to me. A Copper Eskimo 

 figure (No. IX) has a name that is almost identical, but that was said to be 

 derived from dnak, "a noose," and qopdtdaq, which was thought to be the name 

 of a bird. No such meaning can be applicable here. 



