362 A JOURNEY TO THE 



At that instant another, of an enormous size, was getting in 

 over the bow ; and every other means proving ineffectual to 

 prevent such an unwelcome visit, the bowman took up a gun, 

 loaded with goose-shot, put the muzzle into the Horse's 

 mouth, and shot him dead ; he immediately sunk, and was 

 followed by all his companions. The people then made the 

 best of their way to the vessel, and just arrived before the Sea- 

 Horses were ready to make their second attack, which in all 

 probability might have been worse than the first, as they seemed 

 much enraged at the loss of their companion. 



Those animals are of various sizes, according to age and 

 other circumstances ; some are not larger than an old Seal 

 but there are those among them that are not less than 

 two ton weight. 



The skin and teeth are the most valuable parts to the 

 natives ; for the fat is hard and grisly, and the flesh coarse, 

 black, and tough. 



Those animals are seldom found on the continent which 

 borders on Hudson's Bay, or far up, in bays, rivers, or inlets, 

 but usually frequent small islands, and sea-girt [391] shoals, 

 at some distance from the main land ; but as those places are 

 frozen over for many miles during Winter, it is natural to 

 think they keep at the edge of the water among the driving 

 ice during that season. They are supposed to feed chiefly on 

 marine plants, and perhaps on shell-fish, for their excrement 

 is exceedingly offensive. 

 Seals. Seals of various sizes and colours are common in most 



parts of Hudson's Bay, but most numerous to the North. 

 Some of those animals are beautifully speckled, black and 

 white ; ^ others are of a dirty grey. The former are generally 

 small, but some of the latter arrive at an amazing size, and 



[1 Phoca 7>itulina Linn, is one of the commonest seals about the Bay, while 

 the ringed seal, Phoca hispida Schreber, is perhaps equally abundant about its 

 northern shores. The grey species mentioned is the bearded seal, Erignaihus 

 barbatus (Erxleben), which is abundant in most parts of Hudson Bay.] 



