Capture of a WJialc. II 



one would get entangled in the breaking ice so that 

 it could not get away, and then everybody would be 

 out to help or see the fun. A great many ropes of 

 reindeer hide would be brought out and a great 

 many spears stuck into the animal. Then the men 

 would join together and try to pull the huge creature 

 out of the water. Even with the help of all the dogs 

 that could be used it was hard work, but they would 

 manage it after a while. Then all would give a great 

 shout and have great joy over the whale. One reason 

 for their rejoicing was that the whale had so much 

 blubber. Blubber is the inside fat of the whale. 

 There is a fine skin over it and it looks like tallow 

 or leaf lard. It is quite hard in my country, but 

 would melt down into what you would call whale oil 

 in this country. After the whale is cut up we would 

 have a great feast and eat all we could. Then, after 

 taking the meat home, we would spend a long time 

 eating and sleeping. 



It was only when the ice broke up and the people 

 came together to hunt that they met one another. 

 All the rest of the time the families stay in their 

 own homes, and do not visit back and forth as your 

 people do. The only exceptions are, when a man 

 needs meat, or blubber, or a flint, and goes to borrow, 

 or when a young man goes to steal his girl. There 

 is no buying and selling, and no trading. Any one 

 can get what he needs by asking for it, if it is in the 

 village. The people try to treat each other as broth- 

 ers and sisters. 



