42 TRIBES OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA 



everything is ready they silently paddle the hummock 

 towards their prey., each man sitting by his own 

 line and spear. In this manner they reach the ice 

 on which the walruses lie snoring, and if they 

 please, each man may strike an animal, though 

 in general two persons attack the same beast. 

 The wounded and startled walrus rolls instantly 

 to the water, but the harpoon being well fixed 

 he cannot escape from the hummock of ice to which 

 the Eskimo have fastened the line. When the 

 animal becomes a little weary, the hunter launches 

 his canoe, and, lying out of reach of the animal s 

 fearful tusks, spears him to death.&quot; 



At one time whaling was a favourite occupation 

 of the central Eskimo, and in some places it is con 

 tinued to the present day, chiefly by pursuing the 

 whale with a great number of kayaks and skin 

 boats of a larger pattern. The creature is followed 

 by numerous hunters, each of whom endeavours 

 to drive his harpoon into the animal, which, from 

 loss of blood and the resistance caused by harpoon 

 lines, floats, and framework, is tired out, and killed 

 with lances. 



During the very short summer, herds of deer 

 wander in search of herbage, and the Eskimo follows 

 on foot in order to secure a supply of deer skins, 

 which are fit for clothing only when taken at this 

 period. The snow huts have been abandoned, 

 and the hunter takes with him a light portable 

 tent of reindeer hide, which is often pitched near 

 the shores of a lake habitually crossed by the herd. 

 Sometimes the hunting party is divided, and while 

 some men drive the frightened animals into the 



