86 b 



Canadian Arctic Expedition, 1913-18 



You have finally four loops on each thumb. Insert the little and ring 

 fingers into the thumb loops from the distal side, and hold the ulnar strings 

 firmly against the palms. 



Allow the two distal radial thumb strings to slip off. 



Two radial strings are left on each thumb. 



With the backs of the indices from the distal side take off each distal radial 

 thumb string. 



Raise the thumbs and lower the indices — "the squirrel" pops up out of its 

 hole. Lower the thumbs — it returns inside again. Raise the indices and lower 

 the thumbs still more — it pops up again. Each time that it pops out say td tci, 

 a sound imitating its squeak. 



The Copper Eskimos stopped short at the end of the first movement. 

 Their squirrel then popped out in two different places. 



LXXIV. Snapping off the Head 



Some Eskimos from Indian point, Siberia, called this figure qoqoyaqtoq, 

 which was said to mean "he breaks his back." A Cape Prince of Wales woman 

 called it manoxkovaxo, but did not know the meaning of the word. By the 

 Inland (Colville river) natives of northern Alaska it was known by the first 

 words of its chant, qivit-utja, which means "I am crazy." Mackenzie 

 natives called it qoyajeqto'Yyuk, which they thought was the name of a man (see 

 also the preceding figure, No. LXXIII). 



Loop over the indices. 



Close the remaining three fingers of the left hand over the two index strings, 

 insert the left thumb from the proximal side into the index loop, and with the 

 left thumb and index draw through both the transverse strings. 



Thread the right hand loop through the slip-knot so that about one-eighth 

 of an inch projects, then slip the knot tight. 



Hold in one hand the two strings that lead from the knot to the right hand 

 and make Opening A with them. 



Proceed exactly as in the previous figure, "the squirrel," up to the final 

 stage, when the thumb and index loops are alternately raised and lowered in 

 the same manner. If you strain the thumb loops the knot at the top will break; 

 if you then strain the index loops their knot will break likewise. Finally strain 

 the little finger loops and for a third time the knot snaps. 



Fig. 102 



