The Greenland throwing-stick is a long, flat trapezoid, slightly ridged
along the back (Fig. 2). It has no distinct handle at the wide end,
although it will be readily seen that the expanding of this part secures
a firm grip. A chamfered groove on one side for the thumb, and a smaller
groove on the other side for the index finger, insure the implement
against slipping from the hunter's grasp. Marks 5, 6, 7 of the series on
page 280 are wanting in the Greenland type. The shaft-groove, in which
lies the shaft of the great harpoon, is wide, deep, and rounded at the
bottom. There is no hook, as in all the other types, to fit the end of
the harpoon shaft, but in its stead are two holes, one in the front end
of the shaft-groove, between the thumb-groove and the finger-groove,
with an ivory eyelet or grommet for a lining, the other at the distal
end of the shaft-groove, in the ivory piece which is ingeniously
inserted there to form that extremity. This last-mentioned hole is not
cylindrical like the one in front, but is so constructed as to allow the
shaft-peg to slide off easily. These holes exactly fit two ivory pegs
projecting from the harpoon shaft. When the hunter has taken his
throwing-stick in his hand he lays his harpoon shaft upon it so that the
pegs will fall in the two little holes of the stick. By a sudden jerk of
his hand the harpoon is thrown forward and released, the pegs drawing
out of the holes in the stick. At the front end of the throwing-stick a
narrow piece of ivory is pegged to prevent splitting. As before
intimated, this type of throwing-stick is radically different from all
others in its adjustment to the pegs on the heavy harpoon. In all other
examples in the world the hook or spur is on the stick and not on the
weapon.