Eskimo String Figures 



121 B 



If now you take hold of the left palmar string between the two loops that 

 pass round it, and drop the left thumb and httle finger loops, you will have 

 "the fox" running away to the right, with its tail, but without its ears. 



A loop crosses the lower transverse string near the right hand. Turn the 

 hands downwards, then outward so that their palms face outward. Dropping 

 the right hand loops, reinsert the right thumb in the old little finger loop, and 

 the little finger in the old right thumb loop. Then repeat all the movements 

 from the opening stage ("the dog" or "the fox") to "the fox without its ears." 



Now recircle the left hand inward and rechange the loops on the right 

 thumb and little finger. Take hold of the left palmar string between the two 

 loops that pass round it, and drop the left thumb and little finger loops. You 

 have "the fox with its ears." 



Fig. 156 



The Shag Cycle 



The Eskimos of Indian point produce a succession of figures which are called 

 "shag," "beaver," "squirrel," and "man." The Inland Eskimos of northern 

 Alaska produce the "squirrel," but do not continue to the "shag"; moreover, 

 they call the "squirrel" an "ermine." The same figure is known in the Mac- 

 kenzie delta, in Coronation gulf and on the west coast of Hudson bay by the 

 same name, "ermine." The Coronation gulf people, indeed, have elaborated 

 another and rather complicated method of producing it. Klutschak figures it 

 from King William island, and calls it kakbik ("wolverine"). Both the Inland 

 Eskimos of northern Alaska and the Mackenzie natives have another figure 

 which they call "the black brant." It follows the movements of "the shag" up 

 to a certain stage, then, omitting the next movement, passes immediately to the 

 final one. The Mackenzie natives even accompany it with a song, as the Indian 

 point natives do their "shag." 



"The shag" and three other figures all reach by the same methods to a 

 common point, after which they deviate. To avoid repetition this part of the 

 description may be given here : 



