THE ICE-ANCHOR. 39 



the boat to an iceberg, and also to afford a 

 fulcrum by wliicb, with the help of two double- 

 purchase blocks and twenty-four fathoms of 

 rope (also forming part of every boat's ap- 

 pointments), five or even four men can drag 

 the biggest walrus on to a moderately flat 

 iceberg for the purpose of flensing him. 



A small compass is indispensable, and ought 

 to be fitted into a box attached below the 

 seat in front of the steersman, after the fashion 

 of a billiard table chalk-box. 



A telescope, a rifle, and plenty of ammuni- 

 tion, an iron baling-ladle, also answering as 

 a frying pan, and a small copper kettle for 

 making coffee. 



There is a locker in the fore-peak, and another 

 in the after-peak of the boat, and in these 

 there ought to be always stowed a hammer, a 

 pair of nail nippers, a small bag of nails, a 

 piece of sheet lead for patching the boat if a 

 walrus should put his tusks through her 

 bottom, a bag of spare bullets, a canister of 

 powder and caps, spare grummets, a box of 

 matches and brimstone, a canister of coffee, 

 and twenty or thirty pounds of rye bread. A 

 mast, yard, and sail are taken if a stay of a 

 few hours from the ship is contemplated ; but 



s 4 



