Throwing-sticks in the National Museum Part 3

(Mason. Throwing-sticks.)

Fig. 14. Throwing-stick from Saint Michael's. This specimen is very noteworthy on account of the absence of the index-finger pocket, a mark characteristic of the Vancouver type, Fig. 17. If the middle peg of the Vancouver example were removed the resemblance would be close, but the clumsy spur at the bottom of the shaft groove is Norton Sound rather than Nunivak. Collected by Lucien M. Turner, at Saint Michael's, in 1876. Museum number, 24335.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 14. Saint Michael's throwing-stick, front and back.]

PLATE XII.

(Mason. Throwing-sticks.)

Fig. 15. Nunivak type. The characteristic marks are the absence of any cavity for the index finger, the nicely-fitting handle, the disposition of the finger-pegs, and the delicate point on the ivory spur at the bottom of the shaft groove. Collected by W.H. Dall, at Nunivak Island, in 1874. Museum number, 16239. (This specimen is left-handed.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 15. Nunivak Island throwing-stick, front and back, left-handed.]

PLATE XIII.

(Mason. Throwing-sticks.)

Fig. 16. Specimen from Nunivak, right-handed. The cuts on the front and back are noteworthy. Collected by W.H. Dall, at Nunivak Island, in 1874. Museum number, 16238.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 16. Nunivak Island throwing-stick, front and back.]

PLATE XIV.

(Mason. Throwing-sticks.)

Fig. 17. Specimen from Cape Vancouver. In all respects it is like those of Nunivak, excepting a peg-rest for the little finger.

Collected by E.W. Nelson, at Cape Vancouver, in 1879. Museum number, 38669.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 17. Cape Vancouver throwing-stick, front and back.]

PLATE XV.

(Mason. Throwing-sticks.)

Figs. 18, 19. Bristol Bay type. In no essential characters do these sticks differ from those of Nunivak. The handle is smaller, and they appear to have been made with steel tools. Fig. 18 collected by C.L. McKay, at Bristol Bay, Alaska, in 1883. Museum number, 72398. Fig.

19 collected by William J. Fisher, at Kadiak, in 1884. Museum number, 90467.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 18. Bristol Bay throwing-stick, front and back.

Fig. 19. Bristol Bay throwing-stick, front and back.]

PLATE XVI.

(Mason. Throwing-sticks.)

Fig. 20. Unalashkan throwing-stick. It would be better to call this form the Southern type. The noticeable features in all our specimens are the parallel sides, the hard material, thinness, the carving for the fingers, but above all the reappearance of the eccentric cavity for the index finger. This cavity is not a great perforation, as in the Point Barrow type, but an eccentric pocket, a compromise between the Northern cavity and that of the East. Collected by Sylva.n.u.s Bailey, at Unalashka, in 1874. Museum number, 16076.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 20. Unalashkan throwing-stick, front and back.]

PLATE XVII.

(Mason. Throwing-sticks.)

Figs. 21, 22. Throwing-sticks of the Southern type. Fig. 21 is left-handed, collected by Dr. T.T. Minor, at Kadiak, in 1869. Museum number, 7933. Fig. 22 collected by W.H. Dall, at Unalashka, in 1873.

Museum number, 12981. At Sitka two specimens were collected, unfortunately not figured, with the following characters laid down in the beginning of this paper: 1. Short, very narrow and deep, and carved all over with devices. 2. No handle distinct from the body. 3, 4, 5, 6.

All wanting. 7. The index-finger cavity is near the center of the back, very like a thimble. Indeed this is a very striking feature. 8. The shaft groove occupies only the lower half of the upper surface. 9. The spur for the end of the weapon shaft is a long piece of iron like a knife-blade driven into the wood, with the edge toward the weapon shaft.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 21. Kadiak throwing-stick, front and back, left handed.

Fig. 22. Unalashkan throwing-stick, front and back.]

Typographical errors corrected in text:

Page 282: "not fastened in its groove in cannot be hurled." changed to "not fastened in its groove it cannot be hurled."

Page 286: Sabotinsky replaced with Sabotnisky.