430 THE TABLES TURNED. 



On receiving the wound, it plunges downwards, carrying 

 with it, however, only the barbed iron, the shaft remaining 

 in the man's hand. But the seal is presently " brought 

 up " again by the line spoken of (whereto is attached a 

 swivel), the inner end of which is tied to the hunter's 

 left wrist. The battle is often severe and protracted, in 

 which the man "plays" the beast in the same way as the 

 fisherman a salmon. It usually ends, however, in the 

 seal's discomfiture, for when at length it is compelled to 

 come to the surface to breathe, it is presently destroyed, 

 either by the hunter himself, or by his comrade, whom he 

 may have called to his aid.* 



But in thus securing the harpoon line to his own arm, 

 the hunter runs no inconsiderable risk, as has been proved 

 on many occasions. A rather remarkable instance is 

 mentioned by Samuel Odnian, who, when speaking of a 

 certain rock in the Baltic, called Skill-Berg, well known 

 as the resort of numerous seals, and access to which is not 

 at all times easy, owing to the surf, &c., says : "A peasant 

 from the hamlet of Gillinge, plunged his spear into the 

 body of a very large seal ; as usual, the line fastened to the 

 weapon was tied to the man's arm, and as the animal had 

 the advantage of falling ground, it drew its assailant down 

 the rock into the sea. Happily the seal was unable to dive 



* According to Crantx, tin 1 ( Ireenlander destroys the seal :it tin 1 

 KlAs-hAl in much the same manner as in Scandinavia. "II' Mftti himself 

 mi ii stool war llic aperture, irstin^ his feet meanwhile on a hoard to 

 keep (hem from being chilled. When the animal makes its appearance, he 

 plunges his harpoon into its body, and afterwards kills it at his leisure. 

 The Samoyedes, 1'allus tells us, ha\e a \ ery iii^'enioii- way of eiivimn ent ini; 

 the 1'hoca on its resorting to the ' I'.l i- h.il.' They plaee several IN..I- 

 nailed together, and to whieh u ropo is a!li\ed, near the aperture, and 

 afterwards enneeal themselves behind a iieiu'hbonritii: 'hiimmoek:' when 

 the seals have left the water, and lie down to bask on the ice, they draw 

 the board* in (|m stion over tin- hole to prevent their return, and then 

 de.,p.iteh their \ ietims." 



