SKIN-DRESSING

shaped, with a rounded cutting edge on
one side. This was primarily a skinning
and hunting knife, and, judging by the
two-inch tang at the upper end, it evidently
was once secured to.a handle.

The other knife (pl. xv1, c) is interesting
from the fact that it is provided with the
original handle. The blade, of inferior
jade, 58 in. long, is rounded to a dull point,
with a single cutting edge. The inch tang
is clearly cut, and fits in the end of a short,
tapering, horn handle, wrapped around
with hide at the lower end. Such knives
were carried in wooden sheaths attached
to the belt.

Skin-dressing Tools—As furs and skins
constituted the most important articles
in the economic life of the Eskimo, their
clothing, tents, boats, dog-harness, and
portions of their hunting and fishing equip-
ment all coming from reindeer, seal, walrus,
bear, and the smaller fur-bearing mammals,
skin-dressing tools were indispensaile.
Most abundant were the scrapers for re-
moving the fat and adhering bits of flesh.
While slate and chipped-flint blades were

SS

AND MONOGRAPHS