OCCUPATIONS OF THE ESKIMOS 



During tlie season of open water still another method of 

 seal hunting has to be adopted. There is now no ice to per- 

 form upon, so the kyack has to take its place, and in this 

 light craft the Eskimo pursues his prey in the open sea or 

 in the chaimels of water among the ice. 



The weapon now used is not the bow, but a specially 

 designed style of harpoon, which may be thrown long dis- 

 tances from the hand. The bow and arrow are useless, 

 because of the difficulty of instantly killing the seal by a 

 shaft aimed from a kyack. This harpoon is a light form 

 of spear, having an adjustable ivory head to which is attached 

 a long plaited sinew line. This line is wound on the handle 

 of the harpoon, and attached to the end of it is a small float. 



When a seal makes its appearance within twenty or thirty 

 yards of the hunter, the harpoon, thus arranged, is thrown, 

 and if the seal is struck, the ivory head, which becomes 

 buried in the flesh, is detached from the shank, and as the 

 seal plunges about, or dives, the line is quickly unwound 

 from the floating handle. 



Unless killed outright, the seal quickly disappears with 

 line and float ; but as it can remain under water only a few 

 minutes at a time, it must soon reappear, and as it nears the 

 surface, the little float comes to the top and shows the hunter 

 where to prepare for the next charge. Thus the poor wounded 

 animal's chances of escape are small. 



Waleus Hunting. 



Perhaps the most exciting and dangerous sport of the 

 Eskimo is that of hunting the walrus. 



This animal, sometimes called the sea-horse, is large, power- 

 ful and often vicious. It is considered valuable both as food 

 and for the supply of ivory which its immense tusks yield. 

 The walrus is hunted chiefly from the kyack, either in open 

 water in the neighborhood of sandy shores, or about the edge 

 10 145 



