Page:Material Culture of the Iglulik Eskimos.djvu/53

14 (Ponds Inlet) are of antler, 13 (Iglulik) of ivory and 15 (Iglulik) of copper; all have iron blades.

Tikâgut are sometimes quite plain with a single hole (Fig. 11.3 Ponds Inlet), and sometimes more elongated (Fig. 11.1 Iglulik); it is rare that they have a human head as Fig. 11.2 (Ponds Inlet).

As to the form of the ice-hunting harpoon in former days we have only an imperfect idea from Parry's sketch. p. 172; it seems to have a wooden shaft with a bone cap, a slender, fixed foreshaft of Image missingFig. 11.Finger rests. 2:3. bone and a thin head, with the blade at right-angles to the plane of the line hole.

Fig. 12.1 (Ponds Inlet) is a set of ice-hunting gear, which the hunter always takes with him when hunting seals at the breathing holes. It consists of a bound-up piece of seal-thong, from which hang: a drag line (uniutaq) of seal thong, 75 cm long, with a short, toggle-shaped handle of ivory at one end; the other end, for about 30 cm from the point. is slit; the point can thus be drawn through the lower jaw of the seal, the handle is put through this slit and the seal can be dragged by this means. Two ivory rests for the ice-hunting harpoon (Iliorqavit), 15–17 cm long, with a hollow at the top for the harpoon shaft; a little further down is an extension with a hole, in which the thong which holds them is fastened by a knot. A small skin strap, in which are inserted two, wound plugs (tuputaq)^[1] of ivory, 7.3–8.1 cm long, sharply triangular, pointed, with marked heads. Furthermore, a loop, which can be closed by a small toggle and a small buckle of ivory, for reserve harpoon heads. Fig. 12.2 (Iglulingmiut, Itibdjeriang) is a similar set of ice-hunting gear. The drag line is 57 cm long, of plaited sinew-thread, and ends in a handsomely carved little button; it is held to the line by a small toggle. There is also a small sealskin bag, with four wound plugs and two loops, which can be closed by finely carved toggles and buckles; one of the toggles is shaped like a kayak.

A third set (Ponds Inlet) has two drag lines, one of which ends in a round, rather pointed piece of antler, whilst the handle of one line is formed of a loop, the other of a knot; there is also a small bag of seal skin with only part of the hair on, containing five wound plugs, to which hang two screw-wound plugs^[2] of wood; finally, a toggle and buckle of ivory.