82 NATIVES OF GREENLAND. 



foot ; and the successful candidate for the lady's hand 

 must rely on the credit he has obtained by the number of 

 seals he has taken. 



There is very great danger to the Greenlander in the seal 

 hunt. Should the seal be little exhausted in the chase, he 

 often turns on his adversary, seizes on his kaiak, and with 

 his sharp teeth pierces the flimsy cover, when no alterna- 

 tive remains to the poor Uskee but death, as his kaiak will 

 sink and take him down. This must be certain ; as the 

 others can oft'er no assistance, except to allow him to hold 

 by the end of another boat, to the great risk of him who 

 navigates it. Except in the case of a father and son, such 

 accommodation is very rare, as every man on such emer- 

 gency naturally thinks of the value which his life is of to 

 his own family. Much danger also is to be apprehended 

 if the line get foul of the paddle, or arm, or even neck of 

 the hunter, when the seal dives so suddenly on being 

 wounded. It is then that the Uskee displays his skill and 

 experness. If upset, he raises himself again in his kaiak 

 by a dexterous management of his paddle. 



When assembled at a merry-making or at a marriage- 

 feast, they are cheerful and joyous in the highest degree ; 

 but none of that boisterous rejoicing, which is considered 

 the test of enjoyment in other places, is here known. The 

 dance is practised in lively and tolerably well-executed 

 movement ; and some of the Danes having introduced the 



