Esicimo String Figures 127 b 



CVII. Two Seal Holes 



This figure, which is called by the Inland Eskimos of northern Alaska, 

 ay\uk "two seal-holes," is the same as Dr. Gordon's "two kidneys," from 

 St. Michael's island. I have not seen it among other Eskimos. Most of 

 the movements are identical with the opening movements of the figure in 

 the shag cycle. 



Opening C. 



Bring the hands together, turning the palms downward, and with the palms 

 of the thumbs remove the opposite thumb-index strings, pushing them through 

 each other. 



With the back of each thumb take up the radial little finger string of each 

 hand below the loop that passes round it. 



Drop all save the thumb loops and hold the thumb loops in the hands. 



You have the "two seal-holes." 



Fig. 167 



CVIII. A Woman's Knife 



This figure seemed to be peculiar to the Inland Eskimos of the Colville 

 river, by whom it was called uluyaq, "a woman's knife." 



Proceed as in the last figure, "two seal-holes," but at the last drop only the 

 little finger loops. 



Remove the thumb loops to the little fingers from the proximal side. 



In the middle there is a string running horizontally from one side to the 

 other. Take this up with the thumbs from the proximal side, then the radial 

 index string; navaho the thumbs. 



From the distal side press down with the palms of the middle fingers the 

 ulnar index and the radial thumb strings. 



Release the thumbs and indices, then insert the thumbs from the distal 

 side into the middle finger loops. 



Raise the thumbs up, pressing down the ulnar strings with the middle 

 fingers. 



