Eskimo String Figures 125 b 



CIII. The Eemine 



The Copper Eskimos have an alternative method of producing this figure, 

 besides the one given in CI. 



Pass one end of the loop over the foot (or another person's finger). 



Holding the other end in the right hand, lay the left index across the trans- 

 verse strings, then drop the right hand loop over the transverse strings below it 

 so that a section of it hangs on each side of each transverse string. 



Pass the right hand under the transverse strings and with the thumb and 

 index take up on both sides of the left transverse string the string that passes 

 over it, draw it out below to the right, and, slipping the right thumb and index 

 from below into the new double loop thus formed, draw through with them 

 similarly the same string before and after it crosses the right transverse string. 



Again slip the right thumb and index into this new double loop, and with 

 the palm of the index draw through the right transverse string. 



Drop the distal loop on the left index. 



You have "the ermine," as by the previous method. 



CIV. The Walrus Poke 



The Indian point Eskimos called this figure "a bag of walrus intestine hung 

 up to dry." I failed to find the figure along the north coast until we reached 

 Coronation gulf, where it is called mkpaktoyyuk, i.e. "a dog watching over a 

 seal-hole." 



Stage A. 



A vertical string runs from the lower transverse string to loop round another 

 string in the middle of the figure. 



Pass the thimab to the right of this vertical string on the proximal side of 

 all the strings, and take it up with its palm; then with the same thumb from the 

 proximal side take up the radial left index string. Navaho the thumb and drop 

 the index loop. 



You have "the walrus poke," or, according to the Copper Eskimos, "the 

 dog Vaiting to pounce on a seal." 



Drop the left little finger loop and hold the left thumb loop in the hand. 

 You have "the dog" running away, after making its capture.' 



The Indian point Eskimos sing this chant: 



den-a halitaq puvuka halitaq His walrus-bag was hanging up, hanging up. 



a-a qdnum mdqayota Ah! a dog has carried it off in its mouth. 



At the word qdnum make the figure of "the dog." 



* The figure of 'the dog' ia the same as Fig. 144. 



