130 Wounding a Walrus. 



grease, out of which he was picked in a most 

 deplorable plight, retaining, however, his pipe in 

 his mouth, though losing a valuable spade with 

 which he had been working. A bath with the 

 temperature below freezing, whilst perspiring from 

 over- exertion, is no joke. 



It is surprising to notice the exhilarating cheer- 

 fulness which appears to take possession of everyone 

 on board after a successful bout with the whales, 

 and I must also myself plead guilty to the fact of 

 sharing in the same exultant feeling. 



Monday, June 16th. — "After a storm comes a 

 calm," a saying which has been verified by the 

 perfect quiet of to-day, the general excitement of 

 yesterday having totally subsided. 



Snow was falling* the greater part of the day, 

 and the weather was thick and foggy. During the 

 forenoon a large walrus, or sea-horse, as they are 

 more commonly called, was seen swimming about 

 at some little distance from the ship. I fired at it 

 with my rifle, but only succeeded in wounding it. 

 Indeed, it is almost impossible to kill these animals 

 with a bullet, their skulls, the only vital part, being 

 of such a thickness as to make them in many cases 

 impervious to a common rifle ball. I was sorry after 

 I had fired, as the poor beast was seen for some 

 time splashing and writhing with pain, though his 

 sufferings will most probably terminate with death 

 before many hours elapse. 



