THE ARCTIC SEA-COW: STELLER'S ACCOUNT. 133 



is without doubt so in localities where they are frequently captured and by long experience have 

 learned that men are hostile to them, in the same way as others, otters and seals, which in this 

 deserted island never before have seen men, nor have been disturbed in their enjoyment of secure 

 peace, and were killed by us strangers on Bering's Island without any labor, have already been 

 rendered equally wild, and in the Kamtchatkau land, not only when an enemy is seen, but when 

 they scent his tracks, hastily commit themselves to flight. It happens sometimes that these 

 animals are thrown out dead by the tempests around the promontory called Krouozkoi Nos, and 

 also around Awatscha Land, and are called by the Kamtchatkans, on account of their use for food, 

 in their language, Kapnstnik, 'Kraut Emser,' which fact I learned after my return in 1742. 

 Finally, concerning the use of the parts of this animal, according to Hernandes, the thick, firm, and 

 tough skin is used by the Americans for the soles of shoes and for belts. J hear that the skin is 

 used by the Tschuktschi for boats. They are accustomed to stretch the skin on sticks, and to treat 

 it in the same way as the tribe of Koraeccica do the skins of the very large seals called Lachtak. 



"The fat encircling the whole body under the skin, a span, and in some places almost nine 

 inches thick, glandulous, consistent, white, when exposed to the sun turning yellow like hog's 

 lard, of a very pleasant odor and flavor, is to be compared with the fat of no marine animals, 

 nay, rather much to be preferred to the fat of quadrupeds ; for besides that it can be heated for a 

 very long time on the warmest days and not become rancid or otherwise offensive to the smell, 

 when tried out it is so sweet and palatable that it took from us all desire for butter ; in taste it 

 comes very near to the oil of sweet almonds, and can be applied to the same uses as butter ; in a 

 lamp it burns brightly without smoke or smell. Nor, indeed, is its use for medicine to be despised, 

 since it gently relaxes the bowels ; drunk from cups it causes neither nausea nor loss of appetite, 

 and, as I think, for those afflicted with gravel the Sea-cow would be of more benefit than the 

 masticatory bones or stones (masticatoria ossa seu lapides), so called. The fat of the tail is harder 

 and more consistent, and when cooked more delicate. The flesh consists of fibers somewhat more 

 stout and thick than those of neat cattle, is a deeper red than the flesh of terrestrial animals, and, 

 what is wonderful, even in the hottest days warms in the open air a very long time without stench, 

 though it is beset on every side with worms. The reason I allege for this fact is, that since the 

 animal subsists only on marine fuel and herbs, and these fuci are more sparingly composed of sul- 

 phur and more largely of sea salt and uiter, these salts prevent the exhalation of sulphur and the 

 softening and resolution of the flesh in the same way as salts or salt brine sprinkled on flesh, and 

 the more because these salts are mingled intimately with the substance of the flesh and cohere very 

 strongly to sulphurous parts. Though the flesh must be cooked a longer time, yet when cooked 

 it is of the best flavor and not easily to be distinguished from the flesh of neat cattle. The fat of 

 the calves so resembles fresh hog's lard that you can scarcely perceive the difference ; and the flesh 

 does not differ at all from veal, is quickly softened with cooking, and, that continuing, so swells, 

 like the flesh of a young pig, that it claims for itself very much greater room in the pot than before. 

 The tendinous fat about the head and tail is scarcely fit for boiling; on the other hand, the muscles 

 of the abdomen, back, and sides are far to be preferred. It not only does not resist salting, as 

 many have thought, but only grows soft; so that it comes out like salted beef in all respects, and 

 very palatable. The viscera, heart, liver, and kidneys are too hard, and were not much sought 

 after by us because there was a very abundant supply of flesh. 



" The full-grown animal weighs about 8,000 pounds (eighty hundredweight), or 200 Russian 

 puds. 



" There is so great a multitude of these animals about this single island that they continually 

 suffice to support the inhabitants of Kamtchatka. 



