THE BELUGA, OR WHITE WHALE. 209 



tliat are seen in the southern latitudes, or even on the 

 European shores. Besides the one mentioned above, 

 Colonel Imrie, in 1793, saw two young ones which 

 had been cast upon the beach in the Pentland Frith, 

 some miles to the east of Thurso. They were both 

 males, between seven and eight feet long ; they were 

 white, mottled %vith brownish-grey. 



Sir Charles Giesecld describes the AYhite ^Vhale 

 as a migrating animal, which visits the west coast 

 of Greenland regularly every year about the end of 

 November. He remarks that, next to the seal, it 

 is the most useful animal captured by the natives, 

 and it comes at a season when their provisions fall 

 veiy short. It arrives in herds, in stormy weather, 

 with the wind from the south-west. It is captured 

 by the natives TNith harpoons and strong nets ; in the 

 latter case, the nets are extended across the narrow 

 sounds betweeii the islands, and when a shoal is 

 thus interrupted in its course seaward, the individuals 

 are attacked with lances, and great numbers are 

 frequently killed. The flesh is somewhat similar to 

 that of beef, of a bright red colour, though somewhat 

 oily. According to Hans Egede, " His flesh as well 

 as the fat, has no bad taste, and when it is marinated 

 ^vith vinegar and salt, it is as well tasted as any 

 pork whatever ; the fins also, and the tail, pickled 

 or sauced, are very good eating ; so that he is very 

 good cheer." Its oil is of the best, whitest, and finest 

 quality. Some of the internal membranes are used 

 for -vvindows, and some as bed-curtains ; the sinews 

 fiimish the best sort of strong thread. 



VOL. VI. u 



