168 GREENLAND. 



the passes and valleys frequented by the deer ; then, 

 lying in wait for the herd, they single out their game, and 

 either get it at once, or, wounding it, stalk as is done in 

 Scotland. The numbers which are daily destroyed in 

 this manner, during the season, are so great, that the 

 natives often do not encumber themselves with anything 

 but the skin and the tongue, the latter being considered a 

 delicacy ; they leave the bodies to go to waste. At 

 times, however, the deer are very scarce. 



In North Greenland, besides seal-hunting and deer- 

 stalking, the Eskimos are occasionally engaged in the 

 chase of the walrus and the narwhal (or sea-unicorn) ; 

 but as the danger is great, the natives are loath to attack 

 either single-handed. ! ac< * ~ f **< settlements I met a 

 man whose brotner .e*-r> s >.-. >-x,oi*aa a walrus, was at 

 once turned upon by the infuriated beast, who, in the 

 sight of my informant, struck him in the back with his 

 tusks, and killed him at one blow. This same man had 

 another brother drowned in his kajak, after having har- 

 pooned a walrus. The line not being clear, the animal, 

 in sinking, dragged the canoe under water. 



Sometimes a gale off the land springs up whilst the 

 hunter is out at sea. His only chance then is to make for 

 the nearest ice, and hauling his canoe upon it, to drift 

 with it till the gale be over. This ice has at times, 

 though rarely, drifted more than half way across Da via' 

 B trait*. 



