Page:Material Culture of the Iglulik Eskimos.djvu/162

material and shape is 19 cm long and its handle is decorated with regular transversal stripes. A small lamp trimmer from Iglulik, of the same material, is only 10 cm long, with no distinct handle but with a bent point. Fig. 90.2 (Iglulingmiut, Ponds Inlet) is of the same shape but has a handle of ivory and a point of iron; 16 cm long. Fig. 90.3 (Itibdjeriang) reproduces the same form in wood; 23½ cm long. Besides this traditional form of lamp trimmer, more simple forms are also met with, a plain stick of wood, and formerly often a seal penis bone. It is not unusual to find the peculiar limestone concretions from Committee Bay used as lamp trimmers; these are also mentioned by Boas^[1] as "small petrifacts (largely as fish)". Parry^[2] refers to lamp trimmers of asbestos.

In the snow house it is an easy matter for snow to get into the lamp. with the result that it burns badly. This water is taken out by means of holding a lump of snow in the oil; the snow then absorbs. the water but not the oil. On journeys a small box, filled with chopped, oily lamp moss is often taken on journeys to facilitate the work.

An implement that is sometimes used in connection with the lamp is the blubber dripper (Itipserfik); fig. 91 (Iglulik) is of antler, 32 cm long, flat, slightly curved, with the concave edge cut into notches; at the ends are holes for the cords, and from these holes grooves lead upwards. Another, from Itibdjeriang is a straight wooden stick, 41 cm long. This implement is hung horizontally over the lamp by cords at both ends. the cords being fastened to the drying rack. The lump of blubber is laid above the stick and it melts with the heat of the lamp and drips down into it. Sometimes a skin thong is used instead of a stick. I have only seen the blubber dripper used by a few Iglulingmiut families; but I have found a piece of one in a recent qarmaq at Ponds Inlet; the Aiviliks are also said to have used it formerly.