Eskimo String Figures 179 b 



IV 



Another trick known from Point Hope to Coronation gulf. 



Loop over the left thumb, and hold the rest of the string in the palm of the 

 right hand. Spread apart the radial and ulnar left thumb strings about 3 inches 

 from that thumb by inserting the right thumb and index between them from above. 



Give the right hand a half-turn clockwise and hook the left little finger over 

 the ulnar right thumb string. 



Give the right hand a half-turn counter-clockwise and with the back of 

 the left index from below hold back the radial right index string. 



Give the right hand a half-turn clockwise and hook the left ring finger over 

 the ulnar right thumb string. 



Give the right hand a half -turn counter-clockwise and with the back of the 

 middle finger from below hold back the radial right index string. 



Give the right hand a half-turn clockwise and hold back the ulnar right 

 thumb string with the back of the left ring finger. 



Give the right hand a half-turn counter-clockwise and hold back the radial 

 right index string with the back of the left index. 



Give the right hand a half-turn clockwise and hold back the ulnar right 

 thumb string with the back of the left little finger. 



Give the right hand a half-turn counter-clockwise and take up the radial 

 right index string with the palm of the left thumb. 



Drop the right thumb strings and remove the left middle finger loop, allow- 

 ing it to drop. Pull the two strings of the long loop hanging from the left hand. 

 All the loops on the left hand resolve and the hand is free. 



V. A Cape Prince of Wales Trick 



Place one end of the loop on another person's finger and hold the other end 

 in the right hand. Lay the left index over the two transverse strings, then 

 place your end of the loop also on the other's finger. Point your left index up- 

 ward or downward. Two strings cross diagonally between it and the other 

 person's index. 



Take these up where they cross with the right thumb and index and lay 

 them also over the other person's index. Now draw your left index away and 

 his finger is released. 



VI. A Point Hope Trick 



This closely resembles one that is practised on Goodenough island in south- 

 eastern Papua, and another known in Europe. 



Hold one end of the loop in the left hand, palm upward, so that you have 

 a radial index and an ulnar little finger string. 



Bring the long pendent loop back between the fingers, the radial index 

 string coming back between the index and middle fingers and the ulnar little 

 finger string between the ring and little fingers. 



Now pass the pendent strings between the left index and thumb and round 

 the thumb. 



With the palm of the left index take up the upper of the two strings (its 

 old ulnar string) from above, after it passes round the thumb; similarly with 

 the back of the left little finger from below take up .the lower string (its old 

 radial string). Drop the remnant of the string in the right hand. 



Take hold of the two strings on the back of the left thumb, draw them taut, 

 remove them from the thumb and pass them between the middle and ring 

 fingers, then drop them. 



Pull the palmar string; the loops all resolve and the left hand is free 



72754—12* 



