CRUISE OF STEAMER COR WIN EST THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 105 



inhaling the smoke, which he retains in his lungs as long as possible. This is generally followed 

 by a fit of coughing. It is not an unusual occurrence for a native who has been without tobacco 

 for a long time to retain the smoke in his lungs until he falls over senseless, having the appearance 

 of a person under the influence of opium. This state lasts but a few minutes, however, when he 

 recovers, and the same performance is gone through with again. 



Their manner of taking fish and game is peculiar to themselves, and could only be practiced 

 successfully by the aid of Innuit patience. The seal hunter lies flat on the ice for hours waiting 

 for one to appear. The seal is very sly and seldom moves far awajafrom the hole in the ice, which 

 is kept open by scratching. The hunter approaches cautiously by crawling over the ice, his body 

 nearly prostrate, raised slightly on one elbow. He has a piece of bear-skin attached to the thigh 

 on the side upon which he rests. This enables him to slide more easily over the ice. The elbow 

 rests upon a ring of grass. To imitate the sound of the scratching of the seal under the ice, the 

 native carries in one hand the claw of some animal or bird attached to a short stick. In the other 

 hand he carries his rifle or spear ready at all times for instant use. In the spring, when the ice is 

 breaking up, the seals are found along the edge of the floes either on the isolated pieces asleep, or 

 sporting in the water. The manner of hunting them is changed. The Innuits hunt in pairs, their 

 outfit consisting of a sled and kyack for each, and either a spear or rifle. The former is preferred 

 as it makes no noise. When crossing icefloes the kyack is placed on the sled. In this way they 

 travel for days paddling the canoe and drawing the sled by turns. When sealing on solid ice a 

 small sled is sometimes used, the runners of which are made of walrus tusks. It is perhaps 16 

 inches long by 14 inches wide and 3 inches high. It is used in dragging the carcass of the seal 

 over the ice. Fish are taken by means of the gill-net, and by hook and line. The net is set from 

 the shore. It is made of seal-skin thongs, is from 30 to -40 feet in length aud about 5 feet in depth. 

 It is held vertically in the water in the usual manner by means of floats aud sinkers, wood and 

 stone being used for the purpose. To the outer end is secured a flat stone, somewhat larger 

 than the rest, which serves as an anchor. A number of short poles, about 3 inches in diameter, are 

 joined together by lashings to a length of 60 or 70 feet. This pole which is used for pushing the 

 net from shore into the desired depth of water, has its end attached to the stone anchor by a loop 

 which allows it to be withdrawn when the net is set, the outer end of the net being held in place 

 by the stone anchor while to the inner end is secured a line of seal thong leading to the shore by 

 which the net is drawn in. 



The beluga or white whale is hunted in kyacks in the shallow bays. Taking up a position 

 near the entrance, where they can be seen as they come in with the tide, the natives wait for 

 them to pass ; then they rush out, beating the water 'and shouting. The beluga, being naturally 

 timid, are easily driven into shoal water, where they are dispatched with flint spears. According 

 to Innuit belief to kill a beluga with any other weapon would cause bad luck to fall upon the 

 hunter. While lying at anchor at Point Hope, a short distance from the settlement, noticing a 

 party of Innuits collected near the shore with their guns, apparently trying to get a shot at some- 

 thing in the water, I went on shore to join in the sport, taking my rifle along with me. When I 

 arrived the party was moving up the beach at a rapid pace. I was informed that a beluga had 

 been seen heading that way and that they hoped to shoot it as it rose to the surface to breathe, 

 as it must soon do. I joined in the chase, but found running over the loose shingle beach very 

 difficult and was about to give it up when I was seized by each arm by a stalwart native and fairly 

 carried along, my feet barely touching the ground. In this way we soon came up to the party and 

 ran along with them for some time, until a halt was made and near, as I was able to distinguish, 

 the milk-white form of the beluga just beneath the surface of the water. The natives were very 

 much excited, and urged me by signs and gesticulations to " watch for its coming up and shoot." 

 As he arose slowly to the surface I carefully adjusted the sight of my rifle and, taking good aim, 

 tired just as his back came above the water. Almost simultaneously with the report of the rifle a 

 shout went up from the natives, as a purple spot was seen on the side of the beluga indicating 

 that it had been struck. An oomiac was soon launched and the prize towed to the shore, not, 

 however, before it had been struck by the natives with much ceremony with a flint spear, although 

 probably dead before the oomiac reached him. Before fairly out of the water the natives began 

 to devour it, cutting off enormous pieces of blubber and eating it raw. My successful shot hav- 

 S. Ex. 204 14 



