The only throwing weapon which these people use is a small bolas,
designed for catching birds on the wing. This consists of six or seven
small ivory balls, each attached to a string about 30 inches long, the
ends of which are fastened together to a tuft of feathers, which
serves as a handle and perhaps directs the flight of the missile. When
not in use the strings are shortened up, as in Fig. 247, No. 75969
[1793], for convenience in carrying and to keep them from tangling, by
tying them into slip knots, as follows: All the strings being
straightened out and laid parallel to each other, they are doubled in
a bight, with the end under the standing part, the bight of the end
passed through the preceding bight, which is drawn up close, and so
on, usually five or six times, till the strings are sufficiently
shortened. A pull on the two ends slips all these knots and the
strings come out straight and untangled.
The bolas is carried knotted up in a pouch slung round the neck,
a native frequently carrying several sets. When a flock of ducks is
seen approaching, the handle is grasped in the right hand, the balls
in the left, and the strings are straightened out with a quick pull.
Letting go with the left hand the balls are whirled round the head and
let fly at the passing flock. The balls spread apart in flying through
the air, so as to cover considerable space, like a charge of shot, and
if they are stopped by striking a duck, the strings immediately wrap
around him and hamper his flight so that he comes to the ground. The
natives said that the balls flew with sufficient force to stun a duck
or break his wing, but we never happened to see any taken except in
the way just described. A duck is occasionally left with sufficient
freedom of motion to escape with the bolas hanging to him. The weapon
is effective up to 30 or 40 yards, but the natives often throw it to a
longer distance, frequently missing their aim. It is universally
employed, especially by those who have no guns, and a good many ducks
are captured with it. In the spring, when the ducks are flying, the
women and children hardly ever stir out of the house without one or
more of these.
[Illustration: FIG. 247.--Bird bolas, looped up for carrying. 1/4]
[Illustration: FIG. 248.--Bird bolas, ready for use. 1/6]
We brought home one specimen of this implement (kelauĭtau´tĭn), No.
75969 [1793], Fig. 248, which is new and has the balls rather
carelessly made. The balls, which are six in number, are of walrus
ivory, 1.6 to 1.8 inches long and 1 inch in diameter (except one which
is flattened, 2 inches long and 1.3 wide; they are usually all of the
same shape). Through the larger end is drilled a small hole, the ends
of which are joined by a shallow groove running over the end, into
which the ends of the strings are fastened by three half-hitches each.
There is one string of sinew braid to each set of two balls, doubled
in the middle so that all six parts are equal and about 28 inches
long. They are fastened to the feather handle as follows: Nine wing
feathers of the eider duck are laid side by side, butt to point, and
doubled in the middle so that the quills and vanes stand up on all
sides. The middle of each string is laid across the bight of the
feathers, so that the six parts come out on all sides between the
feathers. The latter are then lashed tightly together with a bit of
sinew braid, by passing the end over the bend of the feathers and
tying with the rest of the string round the feathers.
These weapons are generally very much like the specimen described, but
vary somewhat in the shape and material of the balls, which are
sometimes simply ovoid or spherical, and often made of single teeth of
the walrus, instead of tusk ivory. Bone is also sometimes used. In
former times, the astragalus bones of the reindeer, perforated through
the ridge on one end were used for balls. No. 89490 [1342], is a pair
of such bones tied together with a bit of thong, which appear to have
been actually used. No. 89537 [1251] from Utkiavwĭñ is a very old
ball, which is small (1.1 inches long) and unusually flat. It appears
to have been kept as a relic.
There is very little information to be found concerning the extent of
the region in which this implement is used, either in the Museum
collections or in the writings of authors. A few points, however, have
been made out with certainty. The bolas are unknown among all the
Eskimo east of the Anderson River, and the only evidence that we have
of their use at this point is an entry in the Museum catalogue, to
which I have been unable to find a corresponding specimen. Dease and
Simpson, in 1837, did not observe them till they reached Point
Barrow.[N342] They were first noticed by Beechey at Kotzebue Sound in
1826.[N343] Mr. Nelson’s collections show that they are used from
Point Barrow along the Alaskan coast, at least as far south as the
Yukon delta, and on St. Lawrence Island, while for their use on the
coast of Siberia as far as Cape North, we have the authority of
Nordenskiöld,[N344] and the Krause Brothers.[N345]
[Footnote N342: T. Simpson’s Narrative, p. 156.]
[Footnote N343: Voyage, p. 574.]
[Footnote N344: Vega, vol. 2, p. 109, and Fig. 3, p. 105.]
[Footnote N345: Geographische Blätter, vol. 5, pt. 1, p. 32. See
also Rosse, Arctic Cruise of the Corwin, p. 34.]