L30 MARINE MAMMALS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN COAST. 
instructive fact in the order of Providence, that the northern belt of coast is clothed 
with gigantic forests, and swarms with terrestrial animals of the chase, whereby 
the natives of the wooded regions find means of transport across the inland waters, 
and ample clothing from the skins of the animals which range through their hunt- 
ing-grounds, while the thousand islands which diversify the shore between the 
capes of Mendocino and Ommany are but sparsely inhabited by the Uumetopias, 
and those found are turned to little account by the semi -aquatic savage. But on 
the seal islands of Alaska, where the only timber at hand is drifted from the 
great rivers draining the wooded main -land, or borne by the Kamschatka branch 
of the Kuro Siwo, we find rookeries of the largest Sea Lions met with upon the 
shores of the Pacific, gathered with the great herds of Fur Seals which constitute 
the chief wealth of Alaska ; and although the two species differ in their character, 
still they are found peacefully occupying the same or adjacent breeding -grounds. 
The Aleutians even aver that the Sea Lion and the Fur Seal sometimes cohabit 
together. 
The principal rookery of Sea Lions on St. Paul Island is near its north-east 
point ; and to this place the natives resort, between the toils of the Fur Seal 
season, to make their annual "drive" to their village, which is clustered about the 
slope and glen of the opposite shore. This "drive," to the good-natured Aleuts, 
is what the buffalo -hunt has been to the red -skins on the plains of the Platte, or 
matanza- time with the old Californiaus ; for the party starts out as on a sporting 
foray, and at night they stealthily get between the herd of Sea Lions and the 
water; then, with professional strategy, they manage to "cut out" six or eight 
of the largest at a time, and drive them a short distance inland, where they are 
guarded until a band of two or three hundred are assembled. Formerly the 
implement used in driving was a pole with a small flag at the end ; but, since our 
adopted country-folk have become more Americanized, that Yankee production, a 
cotton umbrella, has been substituted, and it is said that any refractory siulch in 
the "drive" is instantly subdued by the sudden expansion and contraction of an 
umbrella in the hands of a pursuing native. 
To collect the desired number for the yearly supply involves several days ; 
therefore a throng of villagers, it is said, sets -out prepared with everything needful 
for the campaign. As the work of driving goes on only at night, the day is 
passed in sleeping and cooking their food by smoldering fires of drift-wood and 
seal -fat, sheltered by their umbrellas, or a sort of tent contrived by spreading 
blankets and garments over whales' ribs in lieu of tent- poles — never forgetting in 
their repast the fragrant chi, which is quaffed in numberless cups from the steam- 
