OLD WHALING DAYS. 43 



It was very interesting to see such huge skeletons on the 

 land, but more so to see the whole carcase. The sharks are 

 large and numerous, but slow in their movements, and are 

 attracted by the carcases of the whales. When the weather 

 was too boisterous for the boats to go outside, some of us 

 youngsters had the privilege of taking a spare boat to kill the 

 sharks. We struck them with a seal harpoon, hauled them 

 on to the beach, and took out their livers. They seemed 

 to be void of pain, and their livers produced much oil. 



Not having seen anything the last few days, we got under 

 weigh for Niatlik, and anchored there before dark. We had 

 all the oil on board, and the ship watered. We brought the 

 Esquimaux with us, their boats and their belongings, which 

 were not numerous. They intended to winter in this place. 

 We sent our boats away as usual, and saw many whales 

 every day, but could not get near them. They were making 

 a rapid passage to the southward. We got ready to leave 

 at any time. The Americans and natives seemed very loth 

 to part, having been so long accustomed to each other's 

 society. The natives were the cleanest I had ever seen. 

 Their dresses were very fancifully decorated with beads, 

 and they had the most beautiful seal skins, which were also 

 very clean. The young female natives wore dried salmon 

 skin covered boots, which shone like silver when the sun 

 was out. They were provided with whale boats, belonging 

 to the Americans, and some harpoons, lances, lines, rifles, 

 ammunition, etc., which could be spared from us. The 

 greatest drawback was provisions. Many natives die 

 through hunger during the winter, as they never provide 

 for the future. When they catch anything they do not seek 

 for more until hunger drives them to it. Their appetites 

 are enormous, but they can go for a long time without food. 



The time at last came to take our departure, the bay ice 

 making rapidly, so we hove up our anchor. All the natives 

 came on board to take a last farewell of their American 



