NATIVE HUNTING METHODS 135 



the others seemed to watch our hostile demonstrations 

 as it leaped flashing silvery lights from its scales 

 to prove the unworthiness of weirs and beds, and we, 

 of the ranks of Tuscany, cheered if its deed of derring- 

 do was neatly and successfully achieved. 



Fish to the number of five having fallen into our, 

 clutches, we stood by and watched the rest. Most 

 of them leaped gloriously to liberty. Some igno- 

 miniously wrig'gled. Others remained in the pool, their 

 nerves so shattered by bluster and assault that they had 

 not the melancholy courage to slip away. In his 

 wrath for blood still oozed from his forehead George 

 would have exterminated the skulkers, and, checked 

 in his bloodthirstiness, he showered upon them con- 

 temptible titles while he cooked two of those we had 

 captured. Wrapped in several folds of banana and 

 ' ginger ' leaves, and steamed in hot sand, the full 

 flavour of the fish was retained and something of the. 

 aroma of the leaves imparted. I was not, therefore, 

 astonished when George, having eaten a three -pounder, 

 finished off my leavings nothing to boast of, by the 

 way and proceeded to cook another (for the dog) ; 

 and Barry, I am bound to say, got fairly liberal 

 pickings. The weather was close, and being satisfied, 

 and, for once, frugal, George cooked the two remain- 

 ing fish, and swathing them neatly in fresh green 

 leaves, sauntered away, cooing a corroboree of content." 



The Eskimo method of hunting the seal varies ac- 

 cording to the season of the year. Mr. J. W. Tyrrell 

 describes some of these methods in his volume of 

 travel in the sub- Arctics of Canada ' : " Seal-hunting 

 is a most curious and interesting form of sport. The 

 1 See Bibliography, 20, 



