NINE MONTHS IN THE ARCTIC. 119 



place together, especially prepared for the pur- 

 pose. The place is a circular cavity, in the form 

 of a cellar under ground, from five to eight feet 

 deep, and with varied diameter, from three to five 

 feet. These depositories are placed along shore, 

 some distance apart, most convenient for receiv- 

 ing the whale when taken. In this cellar they 

 deposit not only the whale blubber and its intes- 

 tines, but also the blubber of the walrus and seal, 

 and occasionally a deer is thrown in, with all 

 that appertains to it, except its skin and perhaps 

 its feet. The whole is thus mingled together in 

 due proportions, and eaten by the natives with 

 no further change in the promiscuous and offen- 

 sive elements than what time itself would pro- 

 duce. 



It was from such storehouses as these that the 

 natives drew out their chief support for the win- 

 ter, and nearly for the whole year. It is quite 

 impossible to define this compound, and even if 

 we could it would answer no good purpose ; for 

 with us it is profoundly obnoxious even to think 

 of it. Absolute necessity — the simple fact of an 

 existence, compelled us to live upon such quali- 

 ties of food, compared with which our hogs have 

 dainties, and luxuriate upon the fat of the land. 



There were, however, some exceptions. Now 

 and then a fresh seal was caught, a bear, a wal- 



