208 THE FUR SEALS OP THE PBIBILOF ISLANDS. 



I have had two pictures made, of which the former represents a male resting on a 

 rock, as they are generally seen ; and the second, a smaller female lying upon her back. 

 Ihave her represented in this position chiefly for the reason that the shape of the hind 

 leg may appear, and this could not be brought out true to nature if she were in sitting 

 position. 



As to style and arrangement of matter, pressure of duties does not pernfit me to 

 spend too much time in perfecting any one thing, unless I am to allow many things to 

 go to waste upon my hands. 1 therefore set out my porridge in carefully made earthen 

 vessels. If the vessel is an offense to any one, he will perform for me and others a most 

 friendly service if he will pour it all into a gold or silver urn. As to the fact that I 

 have noted the minutest circumstances, I did it for this reason: that I might omit 

 nothing that I learned from careful watching. For the rest, I guarantee that I say 

 nothing that is not most ti'ue; an account can always be made shorter, but not longer 

 or fuller, if it has been from the outset restricted within rather narrow limits. 



HABITS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF SEA LIONS. 



These beasts are indeed terrible to look upon when alive, and they far surpass 

 the sea bear in strength and size as well as in endurance of the different parts. They 

 are hard to overcome and fight most viciously when cornered. They also give to the 

 eyes and mind the impression of a lion. Nevertheless, they fear so much the very 

 sight of man that if they see one even at a distance they rush in headlong flight from 

 the land into the sea. But if, when they are sound asleep, a man comes up near and 

 wakes them by a blow from his stick or by a loud noise, they take to flight at once, 

 panting like a furnace, and with their, limbs shaking so with fear that they can not 

 control them. But if one of them is cornered and all chance for. flight is shut off' he 

 turns against his enemy with a great roar, shakes his head in wrath, rages, cries out, 

 and puts even the bravest man to flight. The first time that I tried this experiment 

 was almost the last of me. On this account this animal is never hunted at sea by 

 the Ka;nchatkan tribes, because he overturns the boat of the hunters and slays them 

 most savagely. Nor does anyone dare engage him even on land in open battle, but 

 he is caught by guile when off' his guard and quite at ease, or even sound asleep. 

 When the beast is asleep on land, the hunter who has most confidence in his strength 

 and swiftness, creeps silently up to it with the wind in his face and plunges into it 

 under its fore flippers an iron or bone spear called a "nosok." It is made to fly out 

 of its socket and is fastened to a thong made from the skin of this very animal. The 

 other hunters keep the thong, which is wound several times around a rock or a stake 

 driven deep into the ground. While the beast that has been wounded and aroused 

 attempts to get away, the other men shoot arrows at it from a distance, or transfix it 

 with a second spear fastened to a thong. At length when its strength is gone they 

 pierce it with spears and kill it with clubs. But when they attack it they attack it 

 asleep on the shore where there are few rocks; they shoot poisoned arrows, and then 

 run away. The animal is compelled by the poison to come on shore, as the salt sea 

 water increases the pain of the wounds; and then, if the place is a convenient one, he 

 is stabbed, or otherwise, if left to himself, he will die of the poison in- twenty-four 

 hours. All who have the skill and daring to hunt this beast, and who have killed 

 many, are held in great honor by their fellows, and are regarded as heroes and braves. 

 Accordingly the love of glory, as well as the excellence of the flesh, turns many to the 



