38 A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 
wounded it must have been very slightly, for he 
rolled himself off the ice into the water, with as 
much, if not greater ease, than a person could ex- 
pect from his unwieldy form and size. His back 
appeared to be of a dark bay colour, and what we 
saw of the under part of his body seemed to be of 
the same colour, but of a lighter hue, and mottled 
with white spots. His tusks, I think, were between 
eight and nine inches long. 
Tuesday, 6th. — We were more successful to-day 
im an attack we made on one of the same kind of ani- 
mals I have just mentioned. About noon, we observed 
five of them lying on a piece of ice about a mile 
and a half from the ship. A boat was immediately 
equipped for attacking them, and on our way towards 
them it was agreed, that, instead of firing at the 
whole indiscriminately, we should all aim at one; 
and for the sake of convenience, and likewise to 
avoid having occasion to speak when we came near 
them, it was settled that the one which happened to 
be nearest to us should be our object. 
Having every thing thus properly arranged, we 
pulled slowly and quietly towards them unobserved, 
until we were within forty yards of the piece of ice 
on which they lay. The one that lay in the middle, 
and apparently the largest, now lifted his monstrous 
head; and the moment he perceived us, he roused 
the rest of his drowsy companions that were huddled 
around him. We had by this time got within a few 
yards of them, and, according to our preconcerted 
plan, just as they were in the act of rolling them- 
selves into the water, we all fired at the one which 
was nearest to us. He was wounded so badly that 
he came up again instantly close to the boat, and 
