Even the whale has been successfully hunted by some adventurous tribes, and we show a picture of lines made by the Nootka Indians of Vancouver Island,[A] which are used by them in harpooning whales. The smaller rope is made from sinews of the whale, served or wound with small cord. It is very pliable and exceedingly strong. The harpoon is fastened to this line, which, in turn, is fastened to the larger rope and that to the boat. The large rope shown is made from spruce roots and is about two inches in diameter. [A] The photograph shown on page 13 was taken expressly for us through the courtesy of the officials of the Peabody Museum, Cambridge, Mass., to whom we are also indebted for our information concerning the use of rope among the various primitive tribes. [Illustration: ANCIENT EGYPTIAN RELICS BRIDLE OF HEMP ROPE COVERED WITH WOVEN COTTON--HALTER OF BRAIDED LEATHER BASKET WITH ROPE HANDLES--PALM FIBER ROPE] Ancient civilized peoples had their ropes and cordage, made from such materials as were available in their respective countries. The Egyptians are said to have made rope from leather thongs, and our illustration on page 14 will be found interesting in this connection. This is from a sculpture taken from a tomb in Thebes of the time of the Pharaoh of the Exodus. While this scene is said by the best authority to represent the preparation of leather cords for use in lacing sandals, it has been supposed by some to be a representation of rope-making. In any event, the process is undoubtedly the same as that used in making rope. The scene is depicted with the true Egyptian faculty for showing details, making words almost unnecessary to an understanding of their pictorial records. We see the raw material in the shape of the hide, and also two well-made coils of the finished product. One of the workmen is cutting a strand from a hide by revolving it and cutting as it turns. Anyone who has not tried it will be surprised to see what a good, even string can be cut from a piece of leather in this way. [Illustration: DETAIL OF BAS-RELIEF FROM TRIUMPHAL ARCH AT ORANGE] Another man is arranging and paying out the thongs to a third, who is evidently walking backward in time-honored fashion, twisting as he goes. The thongs are evidently tied to a sort of swivel which is fastened to the man’s body in such a way that it enables him to keep a strain upon the strand without interfering with the twisting, in which process the weight shown upon the swivel is probably of some assistance.