orceuibcr, 1864.] TJw Tlunt Bcneivecl. 123 



disappointing Hall, wlio was thinking' of a clam-feast. He Iiad (;x- 

 pected to find the paunch well filled, as usual, with clams clean of 

 their shells. He says that rarely is any pai't of a shell larg-er than 

 a dime found within the animal. Having- often picked \\\) a singh; 

 shell close by a walrus-hole, he believed that the habit <>f tlic animal 

 is to dig but one clam at a time, and then come up to blow and ex})el 

 the shell. He wonders how it opens the clam so skillfully as not to 

 fracture the shell. 



The homeward journey was attended with the usual troubles in 

 crossing fissures and regaining the land-floe, but at 4.30 p. m. the 

 party reached their igloos. The dogs, divided into three teams, drew 

 the walrus-rolls, which slid along over the rough ice more readily than 

 a sled Ou-e-la, Ar-too-a, and Nu-Jcer-^Jioo, who had been further to 

 the southeast, joined Hall and his party on the way home, Ou-e-la 

 having lost his harpoon in an unsuccessful attempt to secure another 

 .walrus. 



One animal only having been taken at this time, the \\\\\\X was 

 resumed in the closing days of the month, when a very long journey 

 was made to determine whether the animals were deserting their feed- 

 ing-grounds. Many holes were seen, but no indications of a recent 

 visit, and there seemed no prospect of further success until a gale 

 should carry out the heavy drift, and young ice should again form. 

 For some who were out at this time on the floe, Too-koo-li-too kc])t. 

 a beacon-light burning on the hill-top. The men endured much 

 exposure ; when it was dark, they lay down on the ice with the dogs 

 and slept until they became cold, then aroused themselves and walked 

 again till they got warm; alternately sleeping and walking through 

 the whole night. 



