Fig. 543. Cumberland Sound and Frobisher Bay, drawn by Itu, a Nugumio.
(Original in the Museum für Völkerkunde, Berlin.)
Fig. 544. Cumberland Sound and Frobisher Bay, drawn by Sunapignang, an Oqomio.
Fig. 545. Cumberland Sound, drawn by Itu, a Nugumio.
Fig. 546. Peninsula of Qivitung, drawn by Angutuqdjuaq, a Padlimio.
The Eskimo have a sort of calendar. They divide the year into thirteen months, the names of which vary a great deal, according to the tribes and according to the latitude of the place. The surplus is balanced by leaving out a month every few years, to wit, the month siringilang (without sun), which is of indefinite duration, the name covering the whole time of the year when the sun does not rise and there is scarcely any dawn. Thus every few years this month is totally omitted, when the new moon and the winter solstice coincide. The name qaumartenga is applied only to the days without sun but with dawn, while the rest of the same moon is called siriniktenga. The days of the month are very exactly designated by the age of the moon. Years are not reckoned for a longer space than two, backward and forward.
a, b, c, e Drawn by Aisē´ang, a native of Nuvujen.
d, f, g Drawn by Maleki, a native of Imigen.
ESKIMO DRAWINGS.
Drawn by Aisē´ang, a native of Nuvujen.
ESKIMO DRAWINGS.
The Eskimo are excellent draftsmen and carvers. Most of the drawings are similar to the bear and deer shown on Plate V (Figs. d and g) or to the illustrations of the Qaudjaqdjuq tale (see Figs. 537–541, pp. 631–633.) The rest, on Plates VI and VII, are excellently made, and by far superior to any I have seen made by other Eskimo of these regions. A number of carvings are represented on Plates VIII and IX. The narwhal and the whale are particularly admirable. Among the implements represented in this paper there are many of beautiful and artistic design.
BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. VII
Drawn by Aise´ang, a native of Nuvujen.
ESKIMO DRAWING.
BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. VIII
Carving representing whale. (In the possession of Mrs. Adams, Washington.) 1/1
Carving representing whale. (National Museum, Washington. 29998.) 1/1
Carving representing seal. (National Museum, Washington. 29991.) 1/1
ESKIMO CARVINGS.
I also add a number of engravings of implements plainly showing the influence of European patterns (Plate X).
Carving representing narwhal. (In the possession of Capt. John O. Spicer, Groton. Conn.). ½
Seal. (Museum für Völkerkunde, Berlin.) 1/1
Walrus head. (National Museum, Washington. 10414.) 1/1
Polar bear. (Museum für Völkerkunde, Berlin.) 1/1
Sealskin float. (Museum für Völkerkunde, Berlin.) 1/1
Knife. (Museum für Völkerkunde, Berlin.) 1/1
Seal. (Museum für Völkerkunde, Berlin.) 1/1
Spyglass. (Museum für Völkerkunde, Berlin.) 1/1
ESKIMO CARVINGS.
(National Museum, Washington. a, 10395; b, 68146; c, 10396; e, 10394.)
MODERN IMPLEMENTS
Poetry and Music
Among the arts of the Eskimo poetry and music are by far the most prominent.