226 ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 
Then the way to the net was closed by lifting the 
pegs and moving the net inwards. The women and 
children kept guard outside, while the men entered the 
circular apex and began the killing. In the meantime a 
kind of hurdle had been placed against this narrow entry 
to keep back the crowd of birds. 
The killing was a long business, though the actual 
details were done rapidly enough. Each goose was 
picked up by the head and swung quickly round, by 
which method the neck was broken very soon. Then 
it was thrown out of the circle on to the ground outside. 
Meanwhile the geese of the outer ring were running 
round and round, every now and then rushing at the 
net. Occasionally one managed to get out, and then 
the excitement was great. Little Wanka had quite a 
chase on his own account among screams of laughter 
from all the Samoyeds, and after many tumbles and 
sprawls brought back his bird triumphant. 
It was really a sickening performance, though one 
realised of course its extreme importance to these poor 
people in view of winter food. 
Now and then a white bird caught my attention, and 
when the numbers were reduced I managed to secure it 
—a brent, almost entirely white. Unfortunately its 
primaries were moulted out. 
And so the grim game went on. Each time the inner 
lot were despatched the door was opened and a fresh 
batch admitted. At last there were not more than thirty 
