182 THE WHALEMAN ; OR, 



It was about this time that an incident oc- 

 curred which created great delight in the minds 

 of the natives. The thawing away of the snow 

 had revealed to their rejoicing eyes a dead whale, 

 which was found three or four miles distant from 

 the settlement. It was probably driven ashore 

 the season before, and thus preserved in the snow 

 and ice. It was a gala time with these simple- 

 hearted and ignorant people. All that could go 

 — men, women, and children, hastened to the 

 dead whale for the purpose of cutting blubber. 

 It furnished a fresh stock of provisions for them ; 

 a new bite, far better, we presume, than the old, 

 which had become not only reduced, but rather 

 stale. Nor did we fail of receiving our supply 

 from this newly-cut blubber. 



It was deeply interesting, as well as amusing, 

 to witness the zeal of the natives in cutting up 

 the whale, and sledding home the blubber with 

 their dog teams. This was a valuable prize to 

 them, and the staff of life. 



As we remarked before in the former part of 

 this narrative, at the time of our visiting the 

 wreck with the natives, they were very inquisi- 

 tive to know whether we had any thing to drink 

 which would make them dance and sing, and 

 such like. From their gestures, words, and ac- 

 tions, we knew they meant rum. In addition to 



