CUSTOMS OF THE ESKIMOS. 153 



only a few minutes at a time, it must soon reappear, 

 and as it again nears the surface, the little float comes 



o * 



to the top and shows the hunter where to prepare for 

 the next charge. Thus the poor wounded animal's 

 chances of escape are small. 



Perhaps the most exciting and dangerous sport of 

 the Eskimo is that of hunting the walrus. 



This animal, sometimes called the sea-horse, is large, 

 powerful, and often vicious. It is considered valuable 

 both as food and for the supply of ivory which its im- 

 mense tusks yield. The walrus is hunted chiefly from 

 the kyack, either in open water, in the neighborhood 

 of sandy shores, or about the edge of floating ice, upon 

 which it delights to lie and bask in the sunshine. 



A special equipment is required for this kind of hunt- 

 ing. It comprises, besides the kyack and paddle, a 

 large harpoon, a heavy line and box in which to coil it, 

 a large inflated seal-skin float, and a long lance. This 

 walrus harpoon is an ingeniously devised weapon, con- 

 sisting of an ivory shank fitted to a block of the same 

 material by a ball ind socket joint. These are stiffly 

 hinged together by stout seal-skin thongs, and the block 

 is then permanently attached to a wooden handle about 

 four feet in length. The ivory shank, which is about 

 fifteen inches long, is slightly curved, and tapers to a 

 rounded point at the end remote from the handle. To 

 this point is again fitted an ivory head, about four 

 inches long, let into which is an iron or steel blade. 

 Through the centre of the ivory head a heavy line is 

 passed and strongly looped. Then, the shank and head 

 being in position, the line is drawn tightly, and fastened 

 to the wooden handle by an ivory pin and socket catch. 



