152 
COMMON SEAL 
finds, that if they even had a fuperfluity of wood, it would not do, 
they can ufe nothing but trainin them. They alfo mollify their 
dry food, moftly fith, in the train; and finally, they barter it for all 
kinds of neceffaries with the factor. They can few better with 
fibres of the Seals finews than with thread or filk. Of the fkins of 
the entrails they make their windows, curtains for their tents, 
fhirts, and part of the bladders they ufe at their harpoons; and 
they make train bottles of the maw. Formerly, for want of iron, 
they made all manner of inftruments and working-tools of their 
bones. Neither is the blood wafted, but boiled with other ingre- 
dients, and eaten as foup. Of the fin of the Seal they ftand in 
the greateft need ; for, fuppofing the fkins of Rein-deer and birds 
would furnifh them with competent cloathing for their bodies, 
and coverings for their beds; and their flefh, together with fifh, 
with fufficient food; and provided they could drefs their meat 
with wood, and alfo new model their houfe-keeping, fo as to have 
light, and keep themfelves warm with it too; yet without the 
Seals fkins they would not be in a capacity of acquiring thefe 
fame Rein-deer, fowls, fifhes, and wood; becaufe they muft cover 
over with Seal-fkin both their large and {mall boats, in which they 
travel and feek their provifion. ‘They muft alfo cut their thongs 
or ftraps out of them, make the bladders for their harpoons, and 
cover their tents with them; without which they could not fubfift 
in fummer. ‘ 
«© Therefore no man can pafs for a right Greenlander who cannot 
catch Seals. This is the ultimate end they afpire at, in all their 
device and labor from their childhood up. It is the only art 
(and in truth a difficult and dangerous one it is) to which they are 
trained from their infancy ; by which they maintain themfelves, 
make themfelves agreeable to others, and become beneficial mem- 
bers of the community *. 
© Hifi. Greenl. i, 1306 
« The 
