Ethnological results of the Point Barrow expedition: Ninth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1887-1888, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1892, pages 3-442Murdoch, John
History
Ethnological results of the Point Barrow expedition: Ninth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1887-1888, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1892, pages 3-442
Murdoch, John
Eskimos -- Alaska -- Barrow, Point, Region
No. 89636 [1122], Fig. 123, approaches yet nearer the ancient shape,
but still has one end slightly produced. The handle is also of
reindeer antler, which seems to have been very commonly used with the
slate blades. The lashing round the blade close to the handle is of
seal thong, with the end wound spirally round all the parts on both
sides and neatly tucked in. It seems to serve no purpose beyond
enlarging the handle so as to make it fit the hand better. One
beautiful blade of light olive green, clouded jade, No. 89675 [1170],
belonged to a knife of this pattern. The older pattern is represented
by No. 89676 [1586], a small knife blade from Ukiavwĭñ, which has been
kept as an amulet. No. 56660 [129], is a blade of the same type, but
elongated, being 7½ inches long and 2 broad. This is a very beautiful
implement of pale olive jade, ground smooth. The bevel along the back
of each of these blades indicates that they were to be fitted into a
narrow slit in a long haft, like that of No. 89684 [886], Fig. 124,
from Nuwŭk. Though both blade and handle of this specimen are very
old, and have been put together in their present shape for a long
time, the handle, which is of whale’s bone, evidently belonged to a
longer blade, which fitted in the cleft without the need of any
lashing. Fig. 125, No. 89693 [874], shows a form of handle evidently
of very great antiquity, as the specimen shows signs of great age. It
was purchased from a native of Utkiavwĭñ. It is made of a single piece
of coarse whale’s bone. It was intended for a blade at least 7 inches
long.
[Illustration: FIG. 124.--Woman’s ancient slate-bladed knife. 1/3]
[Illustration: FIG. 125.--Ancient bone handle for woman’s knife.
1/3]
[Illustration: FIG. 126.--Large knife of slate. 1/3]
Fig. 126, No. 56672 [191], from Utkiavwĭñ, is a very crude, large
knife, intended for use without a handle. It is of rough, hard, dark
purplish slate. The upper three-quarters of both faces are almost
untouched cleavage surfaces, but the lower quarter is pretty smoothly
ground down to a semicircular cutting edge, which is somewhat nicked
from use. The angular grooves on the two faces were evidently begun
with the intention of cutting the knife in two. We were told that this
large knife was specially for cutting blubber. It is a genuine
antique.
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