484 



THE f ENTKAI. ESKIMO. 



the animal from the windward side until he is within seventy or 

 eighty yards of it. He then lies down, after having fastened a piece 

 of skin under his left arm, iipon which he reclines. The skin protects 

 him from the melting snow, facilitates speed, and diminishes the noise 

 as lie creeps. He moves on toward the seal, resting on his left arm 

 and side and pushing himself forward with his right foot and left 

 arm (Fig. 412). The seal frequently raises his head and gazes around 



to make sure that no danger threatens. As long as the seal is look-, 

 ing around the hunter lies flat and keeps perfectly still, or, if he is 

 somewhat close to the animal, imitates its movements by raising his 

 head and rolling and playing with his hands and feet as a seal does 

 with its flippers. Some natives will utter sounds similar to those of 

 a blowing seal or use a small sledge with a white screen to conce;iI 

 themselves from view. The sealskin clothing makes man and .seal 

 look so extremely alike that it is difficult to distinguish one from 

 the other at some distance. If the hunter succeeds in deceiving the 

 animal it lies down again to sleep and he pushes himself on. As the 

 naps of the seal last but a few moments, the Eskimo approaches very 

 slowly. At last he is near enough. He levels his gun and tries to 

 hit the animal's head, as it must be killed by the first shot, else it 

 jumps into the hole and escapes. If the snow is hard and water has 

 not yet appeared on the top of the ice, a seal may be killed in this 

 way in twenty or thirty minutes. If the snow is very soft and deep 

 it is almo.st impossible to get near enough, as it is extremely difficult 

 to ] )ush one's self along. The approach is rather easy through rough 

 ice, which conceals the hunter, but the seals seldom frequent suc'h 

 places. Sometimes they are found at the edges of roiigh ice or near 

 the shore and are easily ca\ight when in this position. 



Formerly the harpoon was used instead of the gun, and is even 

 now preferred by some hunters. The hunter gets near enough to 

 reach the seal with the harpoon, and having struck his prey has a 

 better chance of securing it, as the weapon prevents its escape. . 



After the shot has been fired or the harpoon thrown, the Eskimo at 

 once jumps to his feet in order to prevent the escape of the animal 



