Two Chiefs

"Two Chiefs" was secured by Dr. Furness from a man in Uap, probably a native of the village of Dulukan. The native name is Logaru-pilun.

1

First: Put the loop on the hands in the "First Position but with the two strings between the hands crossed.

2

Second: Opening A.

3

Third: With the back of each thumb take up, from below, the near index string, and return the thumb to its former position (Fig. 431).

Fig. 431
4

Fourth: With the left thumb and index lift the right lower near thumb string over the right upper near thumb string, and then over the tip of the right thumb, and let it drop on the palmar side. With the right thumb and index lift the left lower near thumb string over the left upper near thumb string, then over the tip of the left thumb (Fig. 432), and let it drop on the palmar side.

Fig. 432
5

Fifth: Bend each little finger down toward you, and pick up from below on the back of the finger the far index string (Fig. 433, Right hand), and return the little finger to its position (Fig. 433, Left hand).

Fig. 433
6

Sixth: With the left thumb and index lift the right lower far little finger string over the tip of the right little finger, and drop it on the palmar side, without disturbing the upper right far little finger string (Fig. 434). In like manner with the right thumb and index lift the left lower far little linger string over the tip of the left little finger and let it drop. Separate the hands (Fig. 435).

Fig. 434
Fig. 435
7

Seventh: Release the loops from the index fingers. There is now a single loop on each thumb and a loop on each little finger.

8

Eighth: Bring the hands together with the points of the fingers almost touching, and put the left little finger loop on the right little finger, and put the left thumb loop on the right thumb (Fig. 436), and remove the left hand.

Fig. 436
9

Ninth: Turn the right hand with the palm toward you, and insert the left thumb toward you into both loops hanging on the right little finger (Fig. 437), and withdraw the right little finger. Put the hands in their usual positions, the palms facing each other, and let the strings hang loosely between them (Fig. 438).

Fig. 437
Fig. 438

There are now two loops on each thumb; the upper loop should be near the tip of the thumb, the lower loop down at its base. Take up from below on the tip of each index the upper far thumb string; keep it on the tip of the index (Fig. 439, Left hand), and press down with the other fingers the lower far thumb string.

Fig. 439

Then turn the palms away from you, and straighten the index fingers. Hold the upper string which passes from each thumb to the index securely in position, by pressing the thumb against the index, but permit it to slip through slightly, to make the figure tight (Fig. 440).

Fig. 440

String Figure Notation (SFN)

  1. PX, then OA
  2. T pu nFS, L pu fFS
  3. na T: na L: re F; kl
  4. rT pu lTN & rL pu lLN; re lH
  5. lT mu-th-pu 2rLN; kl
  6. L gr bfTS: F pu tfTS: CE

"Two Chiefs" is an attractive figure, and not difficult after you have mastered the method of extension. The crossing of the strings in the first movement is found elsewhere only in the "Osage Thumb Catch." The Fourth movement resembles a characteristic Navaho movement; the result of the Sixth movement is similar to the result produced by one of the movements in the "Leashing of Lochiel's Dogs." The Ninth movement is really peculiar to this figure. We shall see the same general principle, however, applied to the Seventh movement of the Eskimo "Mouth."