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
Fig. 260 (No. 89701 [763], from Utkiavwĭñ) represents one of these
specimens. I do not recollect ever seeing goggles of this material in
actual use. No. 89703 [754], Fig. 261, is an unusual pattern, having
along the top a horizontal brim about one-half inch high, which serves
for an additional shade to the eyes. Above this are two oblique holes
opening into the cavity inside, which are probably for the purpose of
ventilation, to prevent the moisture from the skin from being
deposited as frost on the inside of the goggles or on the eyelashes.
I do not remember having seen such goggles worn. Dall figures a
similar pair from Norton Sound, and those brought by Mr. Turner from
Ungava have a similar brim and ventilating holes. The snow goggles
mentioned in Parry’s Second Voyage (p. 547) as occasionally seen at
Iglulik, but more common in Hudson’s Strait, appear to have resembled
these, but had a brim 3 or 4 inches deep.
[Illustration: FIG. 261.--Wooden snow goggles, unusual form. 1/2]
[Illustration: FIG. 262.--Marker for meat cache. 1/2]
_Meat-cache markers._--We purchased a couple of little ivory rods,
each with a little bunch of feathers tied to one end, which we were
told were used by the deer hunters to mark the place where they had
buried the flesh of a deer in the snow. This implement is called
tû´kusia.
Fig. 262, represents one of these (No. 89531 [978] from Nuwŭk). It is
a flat, slender rod of white walrus ivory, 11½ inches long, and
evidently broken off at the tip. The other end is cut into ornamental
notches, and ornamented with an incised pattern colored with red
ocher, consisting of conventional lines and the figure of a reindeer
on each face, a buck on one face and a doe on the other. Tied by a bit
of sinew to the uppermost notch are four legs and three wing tips
(three or four primaries, with the skin at the base) of the
buff-breasted sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis). This was evidently
longer when new and perhaps was originally used for a seal indicator
(which see above). Fig. 263 (No. 89453 [1581] from Utkiavwĭñ) is a
similar rod, the tip of which has been brought to an edge so that it
can be used as a “feather-setter” in feathering arrows. The remains of
two wing tips of some small bird are tied to one of the notches at the
upper end.
[Illustration: FIG. 263.--Marker for meat cache. 1/4]
METHODS OF HUNTING.
Having now described in detail all the weapons and other implements
used in hunting, I am prepared to give an account of the time and
methods of pursuing the different kinds of game.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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