CURIOUS TRIAL OF STRENGTH. 147 



a certain distance fi-oni it. They continued for a 

 very considerable time in motion, at last one by 

 one dropped off from exhaustion, until two only 

 remained, between whom the struggle was protracted 

 and severe. The object of this trial being to ascer- 

 tain superiority of endurance, rather than of speed, the 

 pace was not rapid, but it was, nevertheless, im- 

 perative on the foremost runner to retain his advance, 

 and this law caused some hard struggles for place. 



I was confirmed in my view of the nature of this 

 species of match by observing that the competitors 

 were not allowed to divest themselves of clothine 

 but raced in complete costume ; and that they Avere 

 permitted to provide themselves with the peculiar 

 stick which is used by them in travelling on snow or 

 ice. This is a long thin staff of drift-wood, shod 

 at the foot with pointed ivory or seals' tooth, and 

 furnished with a circular frame, generally of whale- 

 bone, sometimes six or eight inches in diameter, 

 attached to it three or four inches above the shod ; 

 this frame is covered with a net-work of hide-cord, 

 and its use is intended to prevent the staff goino- 

 deep in the snow, and so tripping him whose 

 support it should be : it is a valuable acquisition, 

 particularly with snow shoes. 



When this game Avas concluded,, and our plaudits. 



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