18 NATURAL HISTORY OF ARCTIC AMERICA. 



to slntr tor themselves. They eke out a scanty subsisteiioc 1)y makinj; 

 good use of their time at low tide, Coitus scorpiaa constituting the greater 

 part of their food at this season. 



There are at present so many whalcltoats owned hy these Eskimo, 

 that they experience little difficulty in inalcin;;' cjuite extensive cniises, 

 three or four families constituting a boat's crew. They will load a whale- 

 boat towitliin an iiK-h or two of the gunwale, and then set out for a few 

 weeks of enjoyment and abundance. Tlie s(|uaw.s do the rowing and the 

 "captain" stands majestically in the stern with the steering oar, while 

 the rest of the men arc either asleep or on the lookout for game. The 

 cargo consists of their tent-]>oles, the skin-tents, ])ots, and lam])s, witli 

 sundry skin-bags containing the women's sewing and skinning utensils. 

 Their hunting-gear, of course, forms a quite conspicuous portion of the 

 contents of the boat. A^ery few there are at present wlio have not be- 

 come the iiossessors of a half-barrel, and this vessel occupies a conspic- 

 uous place in the boat, and is almost constantly receiving additions of 

 animal matter in some shape ; a few young eiders or gulls Avill soon be 

 covered n[) with the intestines of a seal and its flesh. l""rom this rece]>- 

 tacle all obtain a i)iece of meat whenever they feel hungry. This ves- 

 sel is never emptied of its contents, except by accident or when scarcity 

 of material forbids its repletion ; and, as the temperature at this season 

 is well ii]> in the "sixties" during the day, this garbage heap becomes 

 80 oU'ensive as to be unbearable to any one but an Eskimo. 



They proceed at a very leisurely rate, rowing for a few minutes and 

 then stopping for a time, chatting, smoking, or eating. When they feel 

 tired they haul up on tlie rocks and have a sleep, and then resume the 

 journey in the same vagabond manner. If, while thus cruising, any live 

 creature that they think there is any possibility they can capture comes 

 in sight, all hands become animated, the oars are plied with redoubled 

 energ;^', guns and sjx'ars are in readiness, and every one is eager lor ilie 

 sport. Hours are often consumed in chasing half-grown duck or young 

 loon, which when procured is but a bite ; but the fun of the chase seems to 

 be the princii)al object, and they enjoy it hugely. Thus they journey till 

 they reach some suitable locality, when llie boat is nnloadeil, the too[»iks 

 raised, the ]am])s pnt in tlieir ]»laces, and all is ready lor a grand hnnt. 

 The men dixide and s( alter o\er the Tiiountains. leaving the eam]* in 

 charge of the women and children : these busy themselves l»y hunting 

 for and destro.\ing cNciy li\ ing creatnre that they <-an lind. 



On the ret n in I >r I he limit CIS. w lio perchance lia\c In ought some skins 

 and a Imnk of \t'ni>oii, there are joyous times in camp; the meat is dis- 



