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CUSTOMS OF THE ESKIMOS. 151 



this he begins to crouch, and advances only when the 

 seal's head is down. The seal is one of the most wide- 

 awake of all animals, and has the habit of throwing up 

 its head quickly every few seconds to guard against 

 danger. When its head is down upon the ice, its eyes 

 are shut, and it is said that in these brief intervals it 

 takes its sleep. However this may be, the hunter, by 

 carefully watching the seal's movements, is able, with- 

 out much difficulty, to get within about two hundred 

 yards of it, but afc closer quarters he is obliged to pur- 

 sue other tactics. He now lies down at full length upon 

 the ice, and here the real sport begins. 



The seal takes the Eskimo, who is able to talk seal 

 perfectly, to be one of its kinsmen ; and indeed there is 

 great deal of resemblance between the genera, for both 

 are similarly clothed, and the Eskimo, living largely 

 upon the flesh and oil of the seal, is similarly odorous. 

 As the two lie there upon the ice, a most amusing sort 

 of conversation is kept up between them. Seal makes 

 a remark and flips his tail. Eskimo replies in a similar 

 manner, making the gesture with his foot, and at the 

 same time throws himself a little forward. Seal soon 

 has something further to say, and again flips his tail. 

 Eskimo replies as before, and closes up slightly farther 

 the distance between them. 



When the seal's head is down, the hunter, who ever 

 keeps his eye on his prey, is able to approach still nearer 

 by dragging himself forward upon his elbows. This 

 manoeuvring goes on for some time, until the distance 

 between the performers has been reduced to a few yards, 

 or sometimes to a very few feet. 



When near enough to make a sure shot, the Eskimo 



