138 SPORT, TRAVEL, AND ADVENTURE 



ments, is able, without much difficulty, to get within 

 about two hundred yards of it, but at closer quarters 

 he is obliged to pursue other tactics. He now lies 

 down at full length upon the ice, and here the real 

 sport begins. 



The seal takes the Eskimo, who is able to talk 

 seal perfectly, to be one of its kinsmen ; and indeed 

 there is a great deal of resemblance between the 

 genera, for both are similarly clothed, and the Eskimo, 

 living largely upon the flesh and oil of the seal, is 

 similarly odorous. As the two lie there upon the ice, 

 a most amusing sort of conversation is kept up between 

 them. Seal makes a remark and flips his tail. Eskimo 

 replies in a similar manner, making the gesture with 

 his foot, and at the same time throws himself a little 

 forward. Seal soon has something further to say, 

 and again flips his tail. Eskimo replies as before, 

 and closes slightly further 'the distance between 

 them . 



( When the seal's head is down, the hunter, who ever 

 keeps his eye on his prey, is able to approach still 

 nearer by dragging himself forward upon his elbows. 

 This manoeuvring goes on for some time, until the 

 distance between the performers has been reduced to 

 a few yards or sometimes to a very few feet. 



When near enough to make a sure shot, the Eskimo 

 takes his bow and arrow from his side and sends a 

 swift shaft through the head of his outwitted com- 

 panion. Sometimes, instead of the bow and arrow, 

 a harpoon is used with equal effect. 



I knew an Eskimo who was so expert at this kind 

 of sport that he was able to catch seals with his 

 teeth. 



