juir, 1863.J Mode of CuUimj up the Ook-f/ook. 181 



natives had told her something- was wrong at his birtli. She was at 

 times persuaded to drink the sonp out of which Hall was accustomed 

 to eat some of OH-e-ki's toolc-too meat. 



The natives were industriously occupied in boat and sledge jour- 

 neys, securing a large amount of game for their subsistence through 

 the coming winter. By the close of the month, the footing up showed 

 twelve seals, nine ooJc-gooks, thirty-seven deer, and a bear, besides four 

 ducks and thirty-eight eggs. Hall's advice secured this increase, as 

 well as the preservation of the well-dried meat in drugs of oil, in which 

 it would keep sweet and fresh and already " buttered." He witnessed 

 the mode of cutting up ook-gook and preparing from its skin the lines 

 for securing the walrus, as well as for sledge tracings and lashings. 

 From an ook-gook 9 feet in length the skin was cut into strips, and 

 then stretched by block and tackle between the rocks. When suffi- 

 ciently dried, the strips were made soft and pliable by rubbing and 

 chewing. The land of civilization, he says, has nothing equaling 

 these lines in strength and endurance of wear and tear. In the divis- 

 ion made in cutting up the animal, a woman received an equal share 

 with each of the men. The ice on the coast still remaining hunmiock}^ 

 it was very difficult to get a heavy ook-gook u])on the island ; yet, if 

 the carcass was insufficiently covered with snow, ice, or deer-skins, 

 the burning rays of the sun in a few moments destroyed the skin ; or 

 if the bear made its ready visit, it struck its huge claws through the 

 tough coat, completely riddling it and tearing out the meat and 

 blubber. 



On the 22d, Hall visited the whaler Black Eagle, on board of 

 which he had an opportunity of comparing and rating his chronome- 

 ters. The first whaler of the season had been sighted on the loth by 



