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CUSTOMS OF THE ESKIMOS. 155 



The remaining portion of the line is neatly coiled, and 

 is provided at the end with a small loop. 



The line used is that made from the skin of the square- 

 flipper seal, as already described, and may be two or 

 three hundred feet in length, though sometimes not so 

 long. The line box is simply a small round parchment- 

 covered frame, about the size of the lid of a cheese-box, 

 and is fastened to the top of the kyack, behind the 



Tdler. 

 'he seal-skin float is a peculiar-looking object, consist- 

 ing of the entire skin of a seal, removed from the carcase, 

 as before described, without cutting it. The hair is re- 

 moved from the pelt, which is then dressed as black 

 parchment. The natural opening at the mouth of the 

 skin sack is provided with an ivory nozzle and plug. 

 By blowing into the nozzle the skin is inflated, and may 

 be kept in that condition by inserting the plug. At 

 the tail-end of the float is an ivory cross-head, to which 

 the loop at the end of the harpoon line may be readily 

 attached. 



The lance completes the walrus hunter's equipment. 



is instrument is formed of a long iron or ivory bar 

 having a steel blade point. The bar is fitted to a wooden 

 handle by a ball-and-socket joint, and stiffly hinged with 

 thongs as in the case of the harpoon. The object of the 

 joint is to prevent the lance from being broken when 

 thrust into a walrus, as otherwise it would be, by the 

 animal plunging about. 



Equipped as above, the Eskimo hunters go out during 

 the season of open water in pursuit of walruses, which, 

 feeding upon clams, are usually found about sandy 

 shores or islands. Single animals are sometimes found, 







