Page:Material Culture of the Iglulik Eskimos.djvu/72

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Image missingFig. 31.Caribou spear. doubtless that which was most important in earlier days, was with the spear from the kayak; this method, however, had of course to be restricted to the short period during which Image missingFig. 32.Knife for pressing out water. lakes and rivers are not covered with ice, from the early part of July until towards October.

The kayak that was used at these hunts is referred to later. The caribou spear[1] (ipo) will be seen on fig. 31 (Iglulingmiut, Repulse Bay); it consists of a wooden shaft (new), scarfed by means of two sinew-thread lashings to a fixed foreshaft of antler, in the fore end of which is inserted the iron blade, fastened in by two iron rivets; total length 1,93 m, of which the fixed foreshaft is 24 and the blade 7½ cm. Another implement used in this form om hunting is the knife for pressing out water[2] (imeqtût), for the purpose of pressing the water out of the skin of the dead caribou. Fig. 32 (Ponds Inlet) is of antler, rather hollow, one edge fairly sharp; it is roughly formed and has a cut-out handle; it is split longitudinally but has been repaired with sinew-thread. 34 cm long. Another specimen, found at Lyon Inlet, is S-shaped, very hollow and with six notches in the handle; 33½ cm long.

September is the principal month for this hunting, when the great migration of the caribou to the south proceeds — a period that is also a good one for skins for clothing. On their way south the caribou are compelled to swim a number of crossing places, narrows in lakes and rivers, where the Eskimos lie ready with their kayaks and spears. The Rae Isthmus in particular, which most of the Melville Peninsula caribou have to pass in the autumn, was of importance to this hunting. During periods when the caribou are not migrating, especially in summer proper, they were often driven by women and children down towards the water and into it, where the men lay in wait with their kayaks. At such places caribou fences (talûn) are often erected — long rows of upraised stones leading to the water and guiding the caribou towards it, the idea being to

  1. ↑ Cf. Parry 1824 p. 508.
  2. ↑ Boas 1901 fig. 135 a–b.
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