THE WALRUS. 271 



part of another, broken by some accident or encounter, offered 

 a less menacing weapon to our view. The whole animal 

 was about the size of a large bullock, and lay upon the 

 ice like a huge mass of animated matter, which seemed to 

 possess no means of locomotion. Its bulky body, small 

 head, and large and strong whiskers, gave it a grotesque 

 appearance, not lessened by an approximation, in its square 

 short countenance, to a caricature of the human face ; while 

 the half stolid, half ferocious stare, with which it regarded us, 

 contributed to render it one of the strangest beings I had ever 

 beheld. While we were rapidly advancing towards it, the 

 animal seemed in doubt whether to take our visit in enmity 

 or friendship, and continued to gaze at us, as it lay (standing 

 not being one of its faculties) at its full height upon a block 

 of ice, about eight feet above the surface of the sea. It must 

 have climbed this elevation by crawling up one side of the 

 frozen mass, which was shelving and easy of access, by means 

 of its tusks and flippers 5 but, whatever was its way of mounting 

 the acclivity, it quickly showed us how it managed to descend j 

 for, upon a couple of bullets passing through its neck, it gave 

 itself a heave backward, rolled over head and heels down the 

 slope of the hummock, and was launched violently into the 

 water by the precipitate rush of its heavy body. No sooner 

 did it find itself in the water, than it prepared to dive ; but the 

 stern of the boat being on its back at the moment it was about 

 to disappear, the captain, exerting all his force after striking 

 the weapon with a sudden plunge against its tough hide, drove 

 the harpoon through its skin, and allowed it to make its vain 

 attempts at escape. It then dived, and took out several fathoms 

 of line like a whale, but it soon rose to the surface, rearing its 

 head and shoulders above the waves, with the most threatening 

 aspect of deadly warfare. Evidently eager for revenge, it began 

 to approach us, yet in a state of hurry and confusion which 

 impressed us with a belief that the balls had inflicted desperate, 

 if not immediately mortal wounds. Nevertheless it displayed 

 determination enough to enter into close conflict, puffing and 



