NORTHERN OCEAN. 
they are at times the leaft fenfible of danger from 
man that I know. 
They often attack {mall boats merely through 
wantonnefs, and not only put the people in great 
confufion, but fubject them to great danger ; 
for they always aim at ftaving the boat with their 
tufks, or endeavour to get in, but are never 
known to hurt the people. In the year one 
thoufand feven hundred and fixty-fix fome of the 
floop’s crew, who annually fail to the North to 
trade with the Efquimaux, were attacked by a 
great number of thofe animals; and notwith- 
ftanding their utmoft endeavours to keep them 
off, one more daring than the reft, though a {mall 
one, got in over the ftern, and after fitting and 
looking at the people fome time, he again plung- 
ed into the water to his companions. At that 
inftant another, of an enormous fize, was getting 
in-over the bow; and every other means proving 
ineffectual to prevent fuch an unwelcome vifit,. 
the bowman took up a gun, loaded with goofe 
fhot, put the muzzle into the Horfe’s mouth, and 
{hot him dead; he immediately funk, and was 
followed by all his companions. The people then 
made the beft of their way to the veflel, and juft 
arrived before the Sea-Horfes were ready to 
make their fecond attack, which in all probability 
might have been worfethan the firft, as they feem- 
ed much enraged at the lofs of their companion. 
Thofe animals are of various fizes, according 
to age and other circumftances; fome are not 
larger 
391 
