280 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884. 



and harpoons, with the additional velocity imparted by the throwing- 

 stick. It must not be forgotten, also, that the kyak is a very frail, un- 

 steady thing, and therefore not much of the momentum of the body can 

 be utilized, as it is by the Northwest Indians in making a lunge with 

 a heavy shaft. The throwing- stick is also said by some arctic voy- 

 agers to be useful in giving directness of aim. Perhaps no other savage 

 device comes so near in this respect to a gun barrel or the groove of a 

 bow-gun. Its greatest advantages, however, are the firm grip which 

 it gives in handling a harpoon or dart, and the longer time which it 

 permits the hunter to apply the force of his arm to the propulsion of 

 his weapon. Having practiced with a thro wing-stick somewhat, I have 

 imagined also that there was a certain amount of leverage acquired by 

 the particular method of holding the stick and straightening the arm, 

 as in a toggle joint. That implement, which seems so simple, and which 

 is usually mentioned and dismissed in a word, possesses several marks 

 or organs, which help to distinguish the locality in which each form 

 occurs, as well as to define the associations of the implement as regards 

 the weapon thrown from it and the game pursued. These marks are: 



1. Shape, or general outline in face and side view, and size. 



2. Handle, the part grasped in the hand. 



3. Thumb-groove or thumb-lock, provision for the firm and comfort- 

 able insertion of the phalanx and ball of the thumb. 



4. Finger-grooves, provision for each finger according to its use in 

 the manipulation of the implement. 



5. Finger-pegs, little plugs of wood or ivory to give more certain grip 

 for the fingers and to prevent their slipping. The devices for the fin- 

 gers are the more necessary where the hands are cold and everything is 

 covered with grease. 



6. Finger-tip cavities, excavations on the front face of the implement, 

 into which the tips of the three last fingers descend to assist in grasp- 

 ing and to afford a rest on the back of these fingers for the weapon 

 shaft. 



7. Index-finger cavity or hole, provision for the insertion of the in- 

 dex finger, which plays a very important part in the use of the throw- 

 ing-stick. 



8. Spear shaft groove, in which the shaft of the weapon lies, as an 

 arrow or bolt in the groove of a bow-gun. 



9. Hook or spur, provision for seizing the butt end of the weapon 

 while it is being launched. These may be ridges left in the wood by 

 excavation, or pieces of wood, bone, ivory, &c, inserted. The size and 

 shape of this part, and the manner of insertion, are also worthy of 

 notice. 



10. Edges : this feature is allied to the form and not to the function 

 of the implement. 



11. Faces: upper, on which the weapon rests; lower, into which the 

 index finger is inserted. 



