asKimo String Figures 



151 B 



CXXXII. Two Sticks 



This figure, which was found among the Copper Eskimos only, is called 

 by them naumaquUk, i.e. "two sticks" set in the wall of a snow hut to prevent 

 bags, etc., from falling to the, ground. The movements are very simple and usual. 



Make a small loop over the left index. Insert the right index into it from 

 the proximal side and separate the hands, holding the strings that leave the 

 indices in the palms. On separating the hands you have (as in "the moon 

 between the mountains" and similar figures) a loop on each index and a loop held 

 by the last three fingers of each hand, with two diagonals crossing in the middle. 



With the thumbs from the proximal side take up the ulnar index strings and 

 drop the index loops. Then with the thumbs from the proximal side remove 

 the little finger loops. 



Pass the little fingers from below into the thumb loops from the proximal 

 side, move them towards the middle, allow the transverse string to slip off, 

 then hook the palms of the little fingers down over it. 



With the palms of the indices from the distal side draw out the proximal 

 radial thumb string and drop the thumb loops. 



A string runs from each palmar string to cross the radial index string. With 

 the thumbs from the proximal side take up these strings and katilluik the 

 thumbs. You have "the two sticks." 



CXXXIII. A Small Seal-skin Poke 



The Barrow and Inland Eskimos of northern Alaska call this figure 

 avdtatciaq, the Mackenzie and Coronation gulf natives avdhtciaq. Both words 

 mean the same, "a small poke of sealskin." Boas obtained the figure with the 

 same name from the west coast of Hudson bay. Except for the peculiar oper- 

 ing, which differs from that of any other figure recorded, the movements are all 

 of a very usual type. 



Make a small circle in the strings so that it hangs down (fig. 200). Insert 

 the thumbs under the strings at "X" and "X" from the proximal side and the 

 middle fingers into the circle from the distal side, holding the remainder of the 

 string in the palms of the hands. 



Fig. 200 



Drop the left thumb loop and, passing that thumb over the string just 

 dropped, take up with it from the proximal side the radial middle finger string of 

 its hand. 



