Janich 1953 Eskimo Notes June 11 Point Barrow, Alaska that is about 2' long and a little thicker than a pencil. The stick strikes flat across the underside of the drum with the end hitting the upper edge of the hoop. Thus it is the flexibility of the stick that causes it to strike the drumhead from underneath, near the middle. There are two sounds, a mere tapping of the edge of the hoop as a kind of warm-up and the faint booming of the stick as it strikes the drumhead when the music is really going. The whole row moves in unison so that the drums, which are swinging a foot or so to meet the stick all move together like coordinated fans. A kind of chanting singing accompanies the drum beating and it's quite a rhythm, but a simple one, everyone doing the same thing at the same time. There are evidently words to it for everyone stops at the same time. One of the men was leader and the others, and woman in the back, joined in to get the band going. This kept up for awhile, but the drummers seemed rather apathetic, if not plain cold. Nobody wanted to dance. The floor was the sealskin blanket, spread out in front of the musicians. We were all cold so returned for more