210 DIFriCULTT OF SHOOTING THE WALRUS. 



througli the head, one after the other ; hut 

 there was now a considerahle sea running, and 

 the hoat was so heavy with skins and hkihher, 

 that they hoth sank hefore we could harpoon 

 them. After his protectors were gone, I made 

 sm'e of getting the one first wounded, hut 

 after getting close to him once or twice more, 

 we lost sight of him amongst the ice, and saw 

 him no more. 



The sloop was now six or seven miles off, 

 and we had a weary row of several hours, 

 against a heavy sea, which nearly swamped 

 the deep-laden hoat, and prevented us getting 

 on hoard until past midnight. 



No one who has not tried it Avill readily he- 

 lieve how extremely difficult it is to shoot an 

 old hull- walrus clean dead. The front or sides 

 of his head may he knocked all to pieces with 

 hullets, and the animal yet have sense and 

 strength sufficient left him to enahle him 

 to swim and dive out of reach. If he is 

 lying on his side, with his hack turned to 

 his assailant, it is easy enough, as the brain 

 is then quite exposed, and the crown of the 

 head is easily penetrated ; hut one rarely gets 

 the walrus in that position, and when it 

 so happens, it is generally better policy to 

 harpoon him without shooting. 



