Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1894 — Eskimo Weapons. [ARTICLE]

Eskimo Weapons.

The spear u ed by the Eskimo is about five feet long. It is made of wood, mounted with bone, in which are finely carved all the fantastic designs characteristic of the Eskimos in this line of work. The arrow is made in three pieces, two parts wood, and tne third, which is the head, of bone dipped in poison. The three pieces ate held together by a leather thong, but with a sligat movement of the hand these can be disengaged, leaving the head, when it strikes the animal, curved in its body in such manner that it is impossible to disengage it without cutting the s.dn. When the weapon is used on whale, seal or other water animals a floater, made of the bladder of a seal, is attached to the end of the spear, so that the hunter n ay trace its course and locate his game. The Eskimos have a peculiar way of “shooting” this weapon. The hunter holds in his right hand, high above his head, a short stick, or “gun” with a notch near the top, where the end of the spear fits snugly. Taking aim at his game, he moves his right hand swiftly forward, propelling the spear with lightning spied, and invariably with unerring aim at the mark. Instances have been recorded where a hunter brought down his game at fi ty yards, and one or two Alaska story tellers, who have no fear of being discredited by the rising generation, iay that animals have been slain at 100 yards distance. But all agree that the average Eskimo is a marksman who nev r fails to hit his mark, and who. when so disposed, always provides plenty for his fam ly with his primitive weapon. Sometimes to this spear is attached a rope of leather, one end of which is securely fastened to the hunter’s arm. so that he may keep hold "of his game. But this is only done on short distance shots. A weapon u ed in hunting birds is a tripod-shaped spear. This is thrown in the same manner as the poisoned spear. The hunter sneaks within distance of his covey of ptarmigan or other birds, and lets fly his weapon. It he be lucky, three birds are the reward of his skill; if not, one or two.