PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
575 
the bird evaded the arrow by diving. The Esquimaux watched its CHAP, 
coming to the surface, and the instant his head appeared he transfixed 
both eyes with his arrow. He was rewarded for his skilfulness, and the Oct. 
skin was preserved as a specimen of ornithology and of Indian archery. 
Generally speaking, however, I do not think they are expert marksmen. 
Their bows are shaped differently to those of Igloolik, and are 
superior to any on the eastern coast of America i they are, however, 
made upon the same principle, with sinews and wedges at the back of 
the wood. On the western coast driftwood is so abundant that the 
inhabitants have their choice of several trees, and are never obliged to 
piece their implements. It requires some care to bring a bow to the form 
which they consider best ; and for this purpose they wrap it in shavings 
soaked in water, and hold it over a fire ; it is then pegged down upon 
the earth in the form required. If not attended to when used, the bows 
are apt to get out of order, and the string to slip out of its place, by 
which the bow bends the wrong way, and is easily broken. 
In these bows the string is in contact with about a foot of the wood 
at each end, and when used makes a report which would be fatal to 
secrecy. The Californians, accustomed to fight in ambush, are very 
careful to have that part of the string muffled with fur, but I never saw 
any precaution of the kind used by the Esquimaux. To protect the 
wrist from the abrasion which would ensue from frequent firing, the 
Esquimaux buckle on a piece of ivory, called tnun-era^ about three or 
four inches long, hollowed out to the wrist, or a guard made of several 
pieces of ivory or wood fastened together like an ironholder. 
Fishing implements are more numerous and varied with the 
Western Esquimaux than with the others, and some are constructed 
with much neatness and ingenuity; but I do not know that any of 
them require description, except a landing riet, and that only because it 
is not mentioned by Captain Parry. This consists of a circular frame of 
wood or bone, about eight inches in diameter, worked across with whale- 
bone like the bottoms of cane chairs, and fixed upon a long wooden 
handle. 
Of all their manufactures, that of ivory chains is the most in- 
genious. These are cut out of solid pieces of ivory, each link being 
