AMPHIBIOUS CARNIVORA. 85 



creek or inlet, they endeavour to cut off their re- 

 treat, and frighten them under water by shouting, 

 clapping, and throwing stones. As, however, they 

 must speedily come to the surface to respire, " they 

 persecute them again till they are tired, and at last 

 are obliged to stay so long above water, that they 

 are surrounded and killed by long and short lances. 

 During this hunt we have a fine opportunity of see- 

 ing the agility of the Greenlanders, or, if I may call 

 it so, their hussar manoeuvres. When the Seal 

 rises out of the water, they all fly upon him as if 

 they had wings, with a desperate noise ; the poor 

 creature is forced to dive again directly, and the 

 moment he does, they disperse again as fast as they 

 came, and every one gives heed to his post, to see 

 where it will start up again, which is an uncertain 

 thing, and commonly three-fourths of a mile from 

 the former spot. If the Seal has a good broad wa- 

 ter, three or four leagues each way, it can keep the 

 sportsmen in play a couple of hours before it is so 

 spent that they can surround and kill it. If in its 

 fright it retreats to land, it is welcomed with sticks 

 and stones by the women and children, and pre- 

 sently pursued by the men in the rear."* 



Several methods are taken to kill Seals on the 

 ice* As they frequently themselves make apertures 



* Crant2. Greenland. 



