152 B Canadian Arctic Expedition, 1913-18 



A string now runs up from each bottom corner to cross the transverse 

 string, forming a triangle. Pass the indices in below these from the distal side 

 and take up each with the palm of the corresponding index. 



Turning the indices outward remove to the left index from the distal side 

 the right index loop, then insert the right index from the proximal side into 

 both the left index loops. 



Point the indices inward, and with their backs draw the radial thumb strings 

 through the index loops. 



Drop the thumb and middle finger loops, transfer the index loops to the 

 thumbs from the distal side and spread apart its radial and ulnar strings. You 

 have "the poke."^ 



The Inland Eskimos chant: 



avatatdaya kanaya ka he-e-e The poke down there, 



avdtatdarja kanaya ka he-e-e The poke down there, 



kanayi kana-a Down there, down there 



aydldtkaya kanaya The sea is tossing it about down there. 



tipiya kana-i It is bringing it in to shore down there. 



The other Eskimos know no chant for the figure. 



Fig. 201 



CXXXIV. The Old Woman and her Pack 



The Inland Eskimos call this figure aqoviyoq, which means "an old woman." 

 The Mackenzie natives call it ndnmaktuaqtoq, i.e. "she is carrying a pack." I 

 have not seen it elsewhere. There is nothing very noticeable about the move- 

 ments. 



Wind the string three or four times around the left thumb and index, 

 stretching them as far apart as possible, and allowing the rest of the string to 

 hang down. 



Remove the loops from the left index and thumb to the two thumbs. 



Take up with the palms of the indices the side of the pendent string opposite to 

 it and turn the indices outward. The ulnar index strings now intersect each other. 



Insert the remaining three fingers of each hand into the index loops from the 

 proximal side and close them over the radial index strings (the transverse string). 



Two strings run vertically from the thumbs to pass round the lower trans- 

 verse strings. Take each up with the palm of the opposite middle finger, draw 

 it through the index loop on each side, then transfer each to the index of that 

 hand from the distal side. 



With the thumbs from the proximal side take up the radial little (or ring) 

 finger and the ulnar index finger strings on each side. 



* According to Boas the large open space below the.poke represents the water, and the stilng running down from 

 the lower right hand comer of the poke is the whale line. 



