ARE TE Ce WoL ER & S. 
They are, when out of the water, very unwieldy, and move with 
great difficulty. They weigh from fifteen hundred to two thou- 
fand pounds, producing, according to their fize, from one to two 
barrels of oil, which is boiled out of the fat between the fkin and 
the flefh. Immediately on their arrival, the females calve, and 
engender again in two months after; fo that they carry their young 
about nine months. They never have more than two at a time, 
and feldom more than one. a 
“¢ The £choueries * are formed principally by nature, being a gradual 
flope of foft rock, with which the Magdalene iflands-abound, about 
eighty or a hundred yards wide at the water-fide, and fpreading fo 
as to contain, near the fummit, a very large number of thefe ani- 
mals. Here they are fuffered to come on fhort, and amufe them- 
felves for a confiderable time, till they acquire a degree of bold- 
nefs, being at their firft landing fo exceedingly timid as to make 
it impoffible for any perfon to approach them. 
“«« In a few weeks they affemble in great multitudes: formerly, when 
undifturbed by the Americans, to the amount of feven or eight 
thoufand. The form of the Echouerie not allowing them to re- 
main contiguous to the water, the foremoft are infenfibly pufhed 
above the flope. When they are arrived at a convenient diftance, 
the hunters, being provided with a fpear fharp on one fide, like a 
knife, with which they cut their throats, take advantage of a fide 
wind, or a breeze blowing obliquely upon the fhore, to prevent 
the animals from fmelling them, becaufe they have that fenfe in 
great perfection, Having landed, the hunters, with the affiftance 
of good dogs, trained for that purpofe, in the night-time endea- 
vour to feparate thofe which are moft advanced from the others, 
driving them different ways. This they call making a cut; it is 
generally looked upon to be a moft dangerous procefs, it being 
impoffible to drive them in any particular direction, and difficult 
to avoid them; but as the Walrufes, which are advanced above 
* This word is derived from Echouer, to land, or run on fhore. 
3 the 
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