48 THE KALUSHES, 



mal is seldom struck ; it immediately dives, and 

 as it swims very rapidly, the skill of the hunter 

 is displayed in giving the baidar the same di 

 rection as that taken by the animal. As soon 

 as the otter re-appears on the water, it is again 

 fired at, when it dives again ; and the pursuit is 

 continued in the same way till the creature 

 becomes so weary that it is easily struck. 



They tear out with their teeth the arrows 

 which wound them ; and often, especially if their 

 young are with them, boldly fall upon the ca 

 noes and attack their persecutors with teeth and 

 claws ; these conflicts however uniformly end in 

 the defeat and death of the otter. The more 

 baidars are in company, the safer is the hunt, 

 but with experienced hunters two are enough. 

 They often encounter great perils by venturing 

 out too far to sea, and being overtaken by 

 storms. 



I now proceed, though with some reluctance, 

 to the description of the natives, the Kalushes. 

 They are, as I have already said, the most 

 worthless people on the face of the earth, and 

 disgusting to such a degree that I must beg fas 

 tidious readers to pass over a few pages. The 



