Eskimo String Figures 115 b 



As if this were not sufficiently complicated there is a fourth figure, somewhat 

 similar in its movements, which some Barrow natives called "the owl" and its 

 continuation "the lemming" (avmj'aq), whilst other Barrow natives, and also 

 some Colville river Eskimos, called it "the ptarmigan and the rabbit"; I believe 

 the Mackenzie natives know it also under this latter name. Until further 

 information is forthcoming from other places it is quite impossible to decide 

 which are the genuine original figures, and which are merely variations. 



The first figure, "the owl and the fox," of the Copper Eskimos, will be 

 described first. 



A. The Owl and the Fox (Copper) 



Make "the fox" (No. XCV), but without dropping the left little finger loop. 



Over near the left hand is a triangle or trapezium. Pass the left index into 

 this from the distal side, hook its palm over the lower transverse string and draw 

 it through to the distal side of all the strings. 



Drop the left little finger loop, and, passing it through the left thumb loop, 

 remove with it the left index loop from the distal side and return. 



You have "the snowy owl." 



Drop the left little finger loop and you have "the fox" which frightened it away. 



The Barrow and Inland natives, who, as was said above, call "the fox" a 

 "dog," chant when they reach the owl stage: 



tdktukdcilidcufja ho-q Taktukitcikitcunga (dog's name) hoq. 



taktukddkdcuya ho-q Taktukitcikitcunga hoq. 



tikd-coq qi'mici pdoiyaqtokdyd He has arrived, go and fasten up your dogs. 



Then dropping the left little finger loop, they cried ho-q, ho-q, ho-q,^ and 

 vibrated the left hand, when "the dog" travelled to the left. 



Some Inland Eskimos from the Endicott mountains sang a different 

 chant, which ran as follows: 



taktukddkdcuya taktukddkdcuya Taktukitcikitcunga 



taktukiyioq qayma UkCkiyd-coq Taktukigioq outside is coming again. 



qi'mivuk diqtuk terihiye Our two dogs their rumps . . . 



ha-q ha-q ha-q Haq, haq, haq. 



Fig. 146 



1 This word ho.q is no longer used in northern Alaska, where it has been replaced by the French word "marche" 

 (pronounced there "mush"). It is still used among the Copper Eskimos, however, to dnve a dog out of the house.or 

 to make it pull harder in its trace. 



72754— 8 J 



