AMPHIBIOUS CARN1VORA. 89 



products of these animals, which have become re- 

 gular articles of commerce, and contribute to the 

 elegancies and refinement of polished society, it is 

 yet interesting to reflect that they are even still more 

 essential to those hardy tribes of our fellow-men 

 who spend their fleeting and chequered day within 

 the limits of the Arctic Zone. To them they are 

 indispensable, for the sea is their corn-field, and the 

 Seal-fishery their most copious harvest. " Seals," says 

 Crantz, "are more needful to them than sheep are to 

 us, though they supply us with food and raiment, 

 or than the cocoa-tree to the Indian, although it 

 presents him with meat and clothing, houses, and 

 ships ; so that in case of necessity they could live 

 upon them alone. The Seal's flesh supplies them 

 with palatable and substantial food ; the fat is sauce to 

 their other aliment, and furnishes them with oil for 

 light and fire, while at the same time it contributes to 

 their wealth in every form, seeing that they barter it 

 for all kinds of necessaries. They sew better with 

 the fibres of Seal's sinews than with thread or silk ; 

 of the tine internal membranes they make their 

 body raiment, and their windows ; of the skins they 

 make their buoys, so much used in fishing, and 

 many domestic utensils, and, of the coarser kinds, 

 their tents, and their boats of all sizes, in which 

 they voyage and seek provisions ; therefore," con- 

 tinues Crantz, " no man can pass for a right Green- 

 lander who cannot catch Seals. This is the ulti- 

 mate end they aspire at in all their device and 

 labour from their childhood up. It is the only art, 



