156 COMMON SEAL. 
«¢ come out upon the ice to bafk themfelves in the fun. Near this 
«« great hole they make a little one, and. another Gyeen/ander puts 
«© a harpoon into it with avery long fhaft or pole. He that lies 
«* upon the ice looks into the great hole, till he fees a Seal com- 
«* ing under the harpoon; then he gives the other the fignal, who 
«* runs the Seal through with all his might. 
«<< If the Greenlander fees a Seal lying near its hole upon the ice, 
«he flides along upon his belly towards it, wags his head, and 
«© grunts like a Seal ; and the poor Seal, thinking ’tis one of its in- 
** nocent companions, lets him come near enough to pierce it with. 
«« his long dart. 
«¢ When the current wears a great hole in the ice in the fpring, 
«© the Greenlanders plant themfelves all round it, till the Seals come 
«© in droves to the brim to fetch breath, and then they kill them 
‘© with their harpoons. Many alfo are killed on the ice while they 
‘ lie fleeping and fnoring in the fun *,” 
Nature has been fo niggardly in providing variety of provifion for 
the Greenlanders, that they are neceflitated to have recourfe to fuch: 
Uses in KamtT~ which is offered to them with a liberal hand. ‘The Kamt/chatkan na- 
ea tions, which enjoy feveral animals, as well as a great and abundant 
choice of fifh, are fo enamoured with the tafte of the fat of Seals, 
that they can make no feaft without making it one of the difhes. 
Of that both Rufians and Kamt/chatkans make their candles. The 
latter eat the flefh boiled, or elfe dried in the fun. If they have a: 
great quantity, they preferve it in the following manner : 
They dig a pit of a requifite depth, and pave it with ftones ; then 
fll it with wood, and fet it on fire fo as to heat the pit to the warmth 
of a ftove. They then collect all the cinders into a heap. They 
ftrew the bottom with the green wood of alder, on which they place: 
feparately the flefh and the fat, and put between every layer branches 
of the fame tree; when the pit is filled they cover it with fods, fo 
that the vapour cannot efcape. After fome hours they take out both 
* pp. 153, 41 52 65 7s 
fat 
