The  sides  are  painted  with  alternate  stripes  of  black  and  red;  on  the
top  the  red  is  replaced  by  dull  blue,  the  bottom  also  being  of  that
color.  A  loop  of  sealskin  cord  three  and  a  half  inches  long  forms  a
handle  on  the  cover.
Another  oval  box,  obtained  at  St  Michael  (figure  6,  plate  lxxxvi)
has  the  sides  made  of  leather  covered  with  black  whalebone,  the  ends
of  which  are  notched  and  interlocked.  The  top  and  bottom  are  of  wood
neatly  fitted.  To  the  center  of  the  top  is  fastened  a  stout  rawhide  cord
about  three  inches  long,  which  has  attached  to  its  end  a  small  tube  for
inhaling  snuff",

18  ETH 18


274  THE    ESKIMO    ABOUT    BERING    STRAIT  [eth.ann.18

A  curious  box  from  Clialitmut  (figure  lo,  plate  Lxxxvi)  is  oval  in
shape  and  is  cut  from  a  single  piece  of  wood.  The  oval  cover  is  set
in  one  side  and  has  a  rawhide  handle.  On  the  sides,  carved  in  strong
relief,  are  two  grotesque,  seal-like  animals  facing  each  other.  The
bodies  are  painted  red  and  the  intervening  area  black.  The  entire
surface  of  the  box  is  marked  with  crescent-shape  incisions  and  studded
with  white  beads  of  different  sizes.
A  box  from  the  lower  Yukon  (figure  12,  plate  lxxxvi)  represents  a
large  seal  upon  its  back  \vith  the  head  and  the  tail  upraised  and  a  smaller
seal  lying  upon  it,  this  latter  forming  the  cover.  This  is  a  well-made
carving  in  strong  relief,  with  numerous  small  ivory  pegs  and  white
beads  set  about  the  surface.  Around  the  neck  of  each  seal  is  fastened
a  flattened  piece  of  bird  quill.  The  seals  are  represented  with  open
mouths  and  beads  form  the  eyes.
