1827 



308 VOYAGE TO THE 



CHAP, than that of kiHine; walrusscs, which, by the devices 

 VII. . . 



_^ upon the instruments, occasionally attack the caiacs. 



Oct. The implements for taking- these animals are the same 

 as described by Captain Parry. Seals are also cap- 

 tured in the manner described by him. Upon some 

 of the bone implements there are correct representa- 

 tions of persons creeping along the ice towards their 

 prey, which appears to have been decoyed by an in- 

 flated seal-skin placed near the edge of the ice ; an 

 artifice frequently practised by the eastern tribes. 

 These animals are also taken in very strong nets made 

 of walrus-hide 5 and another mode is by harpooning 

 them with a dart about five feet in length, furnished 

 with a barb, which is disengaged from its socket when 

 it strikes the animal, and being fastened by aline to the 

 centre of the staff, the harpoon acts as a drag. This 

 instrument is discharged with a throwing board, 

 which is easily used, and gives very great additional 

 force to the dart, and in the hands of a skilful person 

 will send a dart to a considerable distance. The throw- 

 ing board is mentioned also by Captain Parry, by 

 Crantz, and others, and corresponds with the ivomoru 

 of New Zealand. 



We noticed in the possession of a party to the 

 northward of Kotzebue Sound a small ivory instru- 

 ment, similar to the helphuttuh of the Igloolik tribe. 



Birds are likewise struck with darts which resemble 

 the miguit of Greenland ; they are also caught in 

 whalebone snares, and by having their flight arrested 

 by a number of balls attached to thongs about two 

 feet in length : they are sometimes shot with arrows 

 purposely constructed with blunt heads. 



The practice of firing at a mark appears to be one 

 of the amusements of theEsquimaux; and judging from 

 what we saw at Chamisso Island, there are some extra- 



