In the National Museum are four throwing-sticks, one of them
left-handed, exactly alike--two of them marked Kadiak and two Unalashka
(Figs. 20-22). They return to the more primitive type of the area from
Kotzebue Sound to Greenland, indicating that the implement culminated in
Norton Sound. In outline this southern form is thin and straight-sided,
and those in possession are all of hard wood. The back is carved in
ridges to fit the palm of the hand and muscles of the thumb. There is no
thumb-groove, the eccentric index-finger hole of the Northern and
Eastern Eskimo is present in place of the central cavity of the area
from Kotzebue Sound to Cape Vancouver, and there is a slight groove for
the middle finger. Marks 5 and 6 are wanting. The shaft-groove is very
slight, even at its lower extremity, and runs out in a few inches toward
the handle. The hook for the end of the weapon resembles that of
Nunivak, but is more rounded at the point. Of the Eskimo of Prince
William Sound, the extreme southern area of the Eskimo on the Pacific,
Captain Cook says, in the narrative of his last voyage: "Their longer
darts are thrown by means of a piece of wood about a foot long, with a
small groove in the middle which receives the dart. At the bottom is a
hole for the reception of one finger, which enables them to grasp the
piece of wood much firmer and to throw with greater force." Captain
Cook's implement corresponds exactly to the specimens just described and
renders it probable that this thin, parallel-sided, shallow-grooved
throwing-stick, with index-finger hole placed at one side of the
spear-shaft groove, extended all along the southern border of Eskimoland
as far as the Aleuts of Unalashka and Attoo. In addition to the
information furnished by the specimens in hand, Dr. Stejneger describes
a similar stick in use in the island of Attoo. On the contrary, Mr.
Elliott assures me that Aleutian fur-sealers of Pribylov Island use
throwing-sticks precisely similar to those of Norton Sound and Nunivak.
This list might be extended further by reference to authorities, but
that is from the purpose of this article and the series of ethnological
papers commenced in this volume. The most perfect throwing-stick of all
is that of the Mahlemut, in Norton Sound, in which are present the
handle, thumb-groove, finger-grooves, and pegs, cavities for the
finger-tips, index finger cavity, shaft-groove, and hook for the
harpoon. In short, all the characteristics present on the rest are
combined here.
Classifications of these implements may be varied according to the organ
selected. As to the hook for the attachment of the weapon, in Greenland
this is on the shaft, in all other parts of the world it is on the
throwing-stick. As to the index finger, there is for its reception, from
Point Barrow to Greenland, an eccentric hole quite through which the
finger passes. From Kotzebue Sound to Norton Sound there is a central
pocket on the back of the weapon, directly under the groove, for the
shaft of the weapon to receive the index finger. From Cape Vancouver to
Bristol Bay an ivory or wooden peg serves this purpose. At Kadiak and
Unalashka the eccentric index-finger hole returns.
It is more than probable that further investigation will destroy some of
the types herein enumerated or merge two more of them into one; but it
will not destroy the fact that in changing from one environment to
another the hyperboreans were driven to modify their throwing-stick.
A still more interesting inquiry is that concerning the origin of the
implement. It is hardly to be supposed that the simplest type, that of
Anderson River, was invented at once in its present form, for the
Australian form is ruder still, having neither hole for the index finger
nor groove for the weapon shaft. When we recall that the chief benefit
conferred by the throwing-stick is the ability to grasp firmly and
launch truly a greasy weapon from a cold hand, we naturally ask, have
the Eskimo any other device for the same purpose? They have. On the
shaft of the light-seal harpoon, thrown without the stick, and on the
heavy, ivory-weighted walrus-harpoon-shaft an ivory hand-rest is lashed
just behind the center of gravity. This little object is often
beautifully carved and prevents effectually the hand from slipping on
the shaft, even with the greatest lunge of the hunter. From this object
to the throwing-stick the way may be long and crooked, or there may be
no way at all. So far as the National Museum is concerned there is
nothing to guide us over this waste of ignorance.