Cio MM ON.) SeEOAOL. 
*¢ The Greenlanders have three ways of catching Seals: either fing- 
*¢ ly, with the bladder; or in company, by the clapper-hunt; or in 
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the winter on the ice: whereto may be added the fhooting them 
with a gun. ; 
“* The principal and moft common way is the taking them with 
the bladder. When the Greenlander {ets out equipped according 
to the 7th Section, and fpies a Seal, he tries to furprife it una- 
wares, with the wind and fun in his back, that he may not be 
heard or feen by it. He tries to conceal himfelf behind a wave, 
and makes haftily, but foftly, up to it, till he comes within four, 
five, or fix fathom of it ; -mean while he takes the utmoft care 
that the harpoon, line, and bladder, lie in proper order. Then he 
takes hold of the oar with his left hand, and the harpoon with 
his right by the hand-board, and fo away he throws it at the 
Seal, in fuch a manner that the whole dart flies from the hand- 
board and leaves that in his hand. If the harpoon hits the mark, 
and buries itfelf deeper than the barbs, it will directly difengage 
itfelf from the bone-joint, and that from the fhaft ; and alfo un- 
wind the ftring from its lodge on the kajak. The moment the 
Seal is pierced, the Greenlander muft throw the bladder, tied to 
the end of the ftring, into the water, .on the fame fide as the Seal 
runs and dives; for that he does inftantly, like a dart. Then the 
Greenlander goes and takes up the fhaft fwimming on the water, 
and lays it in its place. The Seal often drags the bladder with it 
under water, though ’tis a confiderable impediment, on account 
of its great bignefs; but it fo wearies itfelf out with it, that it 
muft come up again.in about a quarter of an hour to take breath. 
The Greenlander haftens to the fpot where he fees the bladder 
rife up, and fmites the Seal, as foon as it appears, with the great 
lance defcribed in the 6th Section *. This lance always comes 
out of its body again; but he throws it at the creature afrefh 
every time it comes up, till ’tis quite fpent. Then he runs the 
* See the Se€tions referred to, and tab, v. 
x ‘¢ little 
u53 
Manner or 
TAKING. 
