14 The White. Whale. 



or sea trout does when hooked, and is soon lanced, if required, but 

 it generally dies quickly from the harpoon wound. The porpoise, when killed, 

 is anchored and buoyed, and the boats then go on with their work, 

 frequently killing four or five in a tide. The Esquimaux pursue them in their 

 light kayaks, and use a harpoon to which an inflated sealskin is attached. 

 "When the whale is struck the floating air-bag impedes its movement through 

 tho water, and it is soon overtaken and killed by the lance. Sometimes two 

 kayaks are fastened together to prevent them upsetting, and by retaining hold 

 of the harpoon line the Esquimaux are towed along at a great pace. 



To these northern people tho Beluga is a very useful animal. The Danish 

 Greenlandera watch anxiously for its periodical arrival, for it comes at a season 

 when they are usually very short of provisions. The flesh, which is of a dark- 

 red colour, is highly valued, and is said to be of excellent flavour. I have not 

 had an opportunity of trying it, but I have eaten and relished that of the 

 common porpoise, wbich, when broiled, tastes and looks so much like beef 

 that many persona would fail to detect any difTerence between them. _ Sir 

 Leopold McClintock shot a Belugh during his cruise in the " Fox," and says 

 that its flesh was very palatable, and preferable to that of the seal, and Mr. 

 John Ryder, tho well-known actor, has told me that he often ate and enjoyed 

 Beluga steaks during a voyage across the Atlantic in one of the American 

 " liners." Worthy Hans Egede, the Danish missionary to Greenland, seems 

 also to have had a keen tooth for a slice of White Whale, for he says : " His 

 flesh, as well as tho fat, has no bad taste ; and when marinated with vinegar 

 and salt, it is as well-tasted as any pork whatever. The fins also, and the 

 tail, pickled and eauced, are very good eating; so that he is very good cheer." 

 Commander Markham, in hia "Whaling Cruise to Baffin's Bay," confirms 

 this, and says that the tail, boiled and steeped in vinegar, is very palatable. 

 The Greeulanders salt the fins of all the whales for future use, in case the 

 supply of other food should fail, and also as much of the flesh as is not 

 required for immediate consumption. This is !l precaution taken at all the 

 Hudson's Bay Company's posts, when deer, bufi"alo, fish, etc., cannot be gob 

 in sufiicieat quantities. The Esquimaux eat the meat raw. 



The internal membranes, being translucent when stretched and dried, are 

 used by them as a substitute for glass in the windows of their huts, and for 

 other purposes, such as curtains for their tents, etc. The serous membrane 

 of the intestines is so nicely prepared, that it nearly resembles " gold-beaters' 

 skin." A musical instrument called " keeloun " is made by stretching tho 

 membranous skin of the whale's liver upon a wooden or whalebone hoop, 

 about thirty inches in diameter. It is something like a tambourine, but tho 

 player holds it by a handle and strikes the hoop, not the membrane. 



The sinews furnish most serviceable thread. When tho four Laplanders 

 and their reindeer were brought to London by Mr. Farini, and exhibited at 

 the Westminster Aquarium in November, 1877, I had an opportunity of 

 seeing this thread made by the women. A strip of sinew was drawn through 

 the teeth several times, until tho fibres separated and became like so much 

 tow. These were drawn out in such a manner that the end of each was in 

 a diGTerent part of the length; and then, after being drawn between the 

 lips and wetted in the mouth, they were rolled upou tho kuoe — sometimes 



