666 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



AN EXCITING WALRUS HUNT. 



DR. KANE describes a walrus hunt in which he participated 

 with two of his men, Myouk, an Esquimau, and Morton, who 

 were well acquainted with the habits of the animal. They took 

 with them three sledges, one of which was taken to a cache in 

 the neighborhood, while the othertwo, drawn by nine dogs, went 

 off toward the open water, twelve miles from the brig. As they 

 came to the sea, the two hunters would from time to time remove 

 their hoods and listen intently for the walrus' voice. 



After awhile Myouk became convinced, from signs or sounds, 

 which were inappreciable to Morton or Kane, that walruses were 

 sporting not far off, under a thin formation of ice. As they ap- 

 proached nearer they heard the characteristic bellow of a bull of 

 the awuk species. The walrus, like some of the higher order of 

 beings to which he has been compared, is fond of his own music, 

 and will lie for hours listening to himself. His vocalization is 

 something between the mooing of a cow and the deepest baying 

 of a mastiff ; very round and full, with its barks or detached 

 notes repeated rather quickly seven to nine times in succession. 



The party now formed in single file, following in each other's 

 steps ; and, guided by an admirable knowledge of ice-topography, 

 wound behind hummocks and ridges in a serpentine approach to- 

 ward a group of pond-like discolorations recently-frozen ice- 

 spots, but surrounded by firmer and older ice. 



When within half-a-mile of these the line broke, and each man 

 crawled toward a separate pool : Morton, on his hands and knees, 

 following Myouk. In a few minutes the walruses were in sight. 

 They were five in number, rising at intervals through the ice in 

 a body, and breaking it up with an explosive puff which might 

 have been heard for miles. Two large, grim-looking bulls were 

 conspicuous as leaders of the group. 



Now for the marvel of the hunting-craft. When the walrus 

 is above water the hunter is flat and motionless. The animal's 

 head is hardly below the water-line before every man is in a rapid 

 run ; and again, as if by instinct, before the beast returns, all 

 are motionless behind protecting knolls of ice. They seem to 



