TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 193 



dogs, and bidarkas, a veritable orgy of oil. At in- 

 tervals, down what Ralph called " the High Street," 

 fires were burning, encircled with stones, and a strong 

 iron kettle, somewhat like an Irish pot, simmered 

 on the red ashes, reducing pieces of seals' fat to liquid 

 form. An attendant handmaiden ladled out the 

 bubbling oil as it melted into native baskets, so 

 wonderfully woven and meshed that they were water- 

 tight. As the oil cooled it was run off again into 

 bags made from whole seals, or primitive tubs for 

 storing purposes. 



Other women prepared the seals for the pot, lifting 

 the carcasses off-handedly as a fishmonger seizes a 

 salmon for cutting up. All the seal seemed of use 

 save the head and clean-picked backbone, which 

 was thrown on to the beach to add to the already 

 shocking condition of things. The skilful dismem- 

 berment of the seals was accomplished by the aid of 

 a rude stone knife of great sharpness. The split car- 

 case was then laid, hair side down, and having 

 removed the body of the animal almost whole, the 

 deft worker stripped off the fat in a solid sheet clear 

 off the skin. 



Seal-oil boiling is to the Innuit matron what the 

 domestic function of preserving is with us. They 

 stir and watch it just as diligently. But for the smell 

 almost one could think strawberry jam manufacture 

 was in progress. We got so interested and muddled 

 with memories, that Cecily said at last, very anxiously 

 to one matron, "Oh, I'm sure it is time to skim 

 now. The scum is rising." 



o 



