192 THE WHALEMAN ; OR, 



AMUSEMENTS AMONG THE NATIVES. 



Dog races are favorite amusements among the 

 natives. Their chief emulation appeared to be, 

 who should possess the best dog team. He who 

 beat in a race of several miles obtained a num- 

 ber of fathoms of walrus cord. 



These dog teams would sometimes contain as 

 many as twenty dogs. At the time of a race, in 

 which all the settlement was greatly interested, 

 the head man would make a feast, and the most 

 important article on the occasion would be seals' 

 heads; and for some purpose, which they under- 

 stood better than we did, they would put coals 

 of fire, or brands, in the mouths of these heads. 



There was another kind of amusement in 

 which they at times engaged. A circle was 

 formed from twenty-five to fifty feet in diameter, 

 and in this circle any number who chose might 

 enter, and then commenced the race. He who 

 could run the longest, and thus tire the others 

 out, obtained the prize, whatever it might be. 



The head man of the settlement would some- 

 times get up a ivoman's race, and they would run 

 the distance with the greatest fleetness. She 

 who won in the race secured beads, needles, 

 combs, &c. 



Probably the most exciting of all their amuse- 

 ments was that of jumping. 



