FRIGHTFUL MASSACRE. 187 



reposing upon it. Eonr boats' crews, or six- 

 teen men, proceeded to the attack with 

 spears. 



One great mass of the wah'uses lay in a 

 small sandy hay, with rocks enclosing it on 

 each side, and on a little mossy flat above the 

 bay; but to which the bay formed the only 

 convenient access for such unwieldy animals. 

 A great many hundreds lay on other parts of 

 the island at a little distance. 



The boats landed a little way off, so as not 

 to frighten them, and the sixteen men, creep- 

 ing along shore, got between the sea and the 

 bay full of walruses before mentioned, and 

 immediately commenced stabbing the animals 

 next them. The walrus, although so active 

 and fierce in the water, is very unwieldy and 

 helpless on shore, and those in front soon suc- 

 cumbed to the lances of their assailants ; the 

 passage to the shore soon got so blocked up with 

 the dead and the dvins:, that the unfortunate 

 wretches behind could not pass over, and were 

 in a manner barricaded by a wall of carcases. 

 Considering that every thrust of a lance was 

 worth twenty dollars, the scene must have 

 been one of terrific excitement to men who had 

 very few or no dollars at all ; and my infor- 



