HUNTING WALRUS 191 



the walrus gradually tired, the line was tightened 

 little by little, until finally the great animal was well 

 alongside the pan, when it was quickly dispatched 

 with a lance. 



In this manner Awhella secured a large bull. 

 More than an hour elapsed between the harpooning 

 and the death. When it was finally killed, slits were 

 cut back of the victim's neck through which lines were 

 passed, a double pulley was improvised and in a few 

 minutes Awhella, with the aid of two others, had the 

 carcass on the ice. Every portion of the walrus was 

 utilized, save only the blood lost in killing it, and in 

 an incredibly short time it was skinned, and the flesh 

 cut in large pieces, lashed upon the komatiks and we 

 were on our way back to camp. 



The sledges, now heavily laden, were worked 

 through the rough ice with difficulty. A strong 

 northeast wind sprang up, accompanied by flurries of 

 snow, and very cold and tired we were when the igloos 

 were reached. 



Sipsu, who had remained behind to reconnoiter, re- 

 turned several hours later to report a large number 

 of walrus in sight, but so much driving ice that it was 

 useless to attempt to hunt them. 



The snow igloo was excessively cold, and feeling 

 far from well I had my oil stoves and other personal 

 belongings removed to Eiseeyou's stone igloo, where 

 a warm and hearty welcome awaited me. They were 

 so hospitable, in fact, that they made me feel that I 

 was honoring and complimenting them by coming 

 with them and making their igloo my home during 



