NINE MONTHS IN THE ARCTIC. 191 



one end of a valley, near the bottom of it ; and, 

 if possible, they would conceal themselves from 

 the ducks behind little hillocks. Or if at the ter- 

 mination of a valley there should be a precipi- 

 tous descent of several feet, the natives would be 

 sure to take their position in such a locality. 

 The fowl usually flew along in valleys running 

 north and south. 



Thus stationed, with neither guns, bows, nor 

 arrows, but with a number of small balls in their 

 hands, connected with each other by strings from 

 twelve to eighteen inches in length, they await 

 the approach of their game. When the fowl are 

 sufficiently near for their purpose, the natives 

 rise up, and throw, with singular force and pre- 

 cision, these balls at the flock of passing ducks. 

 At first, when these balls leave their hands, they 

 are all together and compact; but with increas- 

 ing distance, they will open and spread them- 

 selves to the extent of the strings by which they 

 are tied together, and, by the time they get into 

 the midst of the flock, they are fully extended ; 

 and then these balls, meeting with resistance, 

 will twist around the necks, legs, and wings of 

 the fowl, and bring them to the ground. 



The ducks are killed by the natives, not by 

 cutting off their heads, or breaking their necks, 

 but by pressing the foot upon them until they 

 cease to breathe. 



