2,58 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Occasional attacks Mutual attachment. 



subjecting the people to great danger. In the 

 year 1766 some of the crew of a sloop which 

 sailed to the north, to trade with the Esquimaux, 

 were attacked in their boat by a great number of 

 walrusses ; and, notwithstanding their utmost en- 

 deavours to keep them off, one more daring than 

 the rest, got in over the stern, and after sitting 

 and looking at the men some time, he again 

 plunged into the water to his companions. At 

 that instant, another of an enormous size was get- 

 ting in over the bow; and, every other means 

 proving ineffectual to prevent his intrusion, the 

 bowman took up a gun, loaded with goose-shot, 

 put the muzzle into the animal's mouth, and shot 

 him dead. He immediately sunk and was fol- 

 lowed by all his companions. The people then 

 made the best of their way to the vessel, and just 

 arrived before the creatures were ready to make 

 a fresh attack, which, in all probability, would 

 have been infinitely worse than the former, as 

 they seemed greatly enraged at the loss of their 

 companion. 



Their mutual attachments are extremely 

 strong; and they will make every effort in their 

 power to set at liberty their harpooned compani- 

 ons. A wounded walrus has been known to sink 

 to the bottom of the sea, rise suddenly again, and 

 bring up with it multitudes of others, to attack 

 the boat whence the insult came. 



Towards the beginning of spring, these qua- 

 drupeds -invariably visit the Magdalene Islands, 



