Eskimo String Figures 153 b 



* 



Drop the index loops, withdraw the ring fingers from their loops and insert 

 them both into the two loops that the thumbs have just taken up; then with 

 the palms of the indices from the distal side draw through the radial thumb 

 strings (all of them) and drop the thumb loops. 



You have "the old woman with the pack on her back" (the sheaf of hori- 

 zontal strings bound by two half -hitches), her two legs being the two loops 

 that pass round the lower transverse string. 



The Inland Eskimos at this stage say: 



aqoviyoq aqoviyoq na-mi natmdluqdtaitcdhn tdtkiya 



"Old lady, old lady, where is the bundle you are carrying?" 

 "There it is" (dropping the index loops). 



The Mackenzie natives say: 



aqoviyoq ndtmdluqdtaitcdUn qaiXit uva 



"Old lady, your pack give me." "Here it is" (dropping the index loops). 



At the last words "the pack," according to the Inland Eskimos, is thrown 

 out of the window by "the old woman." 



Fig. 202 



CXXXV. A Fish 



The Colville river Eskimo from whom I learnt this figure called it lydlune, 

 which he said was a species of fish. An Inland native from the Endicott mount- 

 ains knew a figure with the same name, and with a chant the same as that of the 

 Colville river Eskimo's, but said that the latter's figure was incorrect, though 

 he himself had forgotten how to make the true figure. The opening is simple, 

 and found in several other figures. 



Position 1. 



With the back of each thumb from the distal side take up the ulnar little 

 finger string of the opposite hand and drop the little finger loops. 



Insert the little fingers into the thumb loops from the proximal side, move 

 them towards the middle, allow the lower transverse string to fall off, then hook 

 the little fingers over it and hold it firmly against the palms. 



Pass the indices into the thumb loops from the distal side and with their 

 palms draw through the upper transverse string. 



Drop the thumb loops, then the right little finger loop and hold the right 

 thumb loop in the right hand. You have "the fish." 



Chant : 



lydlune cdmaya tautuya cdmaya Fish down there, let me see down there. 



lydlune cdmaya tautuya cdmaya Fish down there, let me see down there. 



a yaya hai ya ha 



a yaya hai ya ha 



cua pm^a nauyakiaq pm^a What's that up there, a seagull up there. 



pdpejoidcukpaydlu It may want to take my tail. 



pdpejoikpaydlu It may take my tail. 



tamnali timiyoaya tuluk-am And this my poor old body let the raven 



piyiX'iuy take it. 



aulauvit'coq There is no escape 



kdvauPcoq 

 putukutcoq 



? ? ? 



? ? ? 



