ATHLETIC AMUSEMENTS. 127 



a rude sort of ball-game. Thick seal-skin 

 leather is made into a ball about the size 

 of our common base-ball, and then filled 

 about two-thirds full with sand. If com- 

 pletely filled, it would be as hard and 

 unyielding as a stone, and the singular 

 sliding way it has of yielding because of 

 its being only partially filled, makes it 

 much harder to catch and retain in the 

 hands than our common ball. The game 

 is a very simple one, much like our play 

 with bean-bags, and consists simply in 

 striking at the ball with the open palm 

 of the hand, and, when there is a crowd 

 of players, in keeping the ball constantly 

 in the air. This is a favorite summer 

 game when the snow is off the ground 

 and the people are living in seal-skin 

 tents. No doubt it affords considerable 

 exercise. Whenever the ball drops to 



