THE ESKIMO AS A HUNTER 39 



&quot;If he is sure that the seal has recently visited 

 a hole, he marks its exact centre on the top of the 

 snow and then fills up his peep-hole with small 

 blocks of snow. These preparations must be 

 made with the utmost caution, as any changes in 

 the appearance of the snow would frighten awav 

 the seal,&quot; 



The hunter stands on a small piece of seal skin 

 with the harpoon poised in both hands, and there 

 he may have to wait for several hours ; sometimes 

 he builds a screen of snow to protect himself from 

 the bitterly cold wind. Now he bends low, and 

 listens intently for the blowing which indicates 

 that a seal is at hand ; then suddenly he stands 

 upright, and with all his strength sends down the 

 harpoon into the hole, where the seal is in such a 

 position that it usually receives the weapon in the 

 head. The line is paid out, and at the same time 

 the hunter cuts down the snow covering from the 

 hole, to the edge of which the animal is dragged, 

 and dispatched by a blow on the head. 



The blood of a seal is highly prized, and to pre 

 vent waste all wounds are closed by driving in ivory 

 pegs ; sometimes the hunter refreshes himself with 

 a copious drink of the warm blood. 



In the month of March, mother seals prepare 

 long burrows in the snow, and here the Eskimo finds 

 the baby seal, which is dragged forth by means of 

 a large hook ; the mother, too, is often caught or 

 harpooned because of her courage in attempting 

 to save her young. Perhaps these methods of 

 hunting appear to be somewhat cruel, but it is to be 

 remembered that the Eskimo is constantly fighting 



