ia8 NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 



u water. To get into thefe caves the peafants have a particular 

 a fort of narrow boats. As they know the time when the young 

 " ones are fat and full grown, they then fet out, and always have 

 " two boats in company : one goes into the cavern, while the 

 " other is left at the outfide of the entrance. They have a rope 

 Cc of 80 fathoms or more fattened to thefe boats at each end, that 

 « if the boat which is gone in (hould be filled with water, which 

 « c often happens, the other, upon a fignal given, may draw it 

 iC out, and fave the men. As the entrance is narrow, they have 

 <c boat-hooks to each boat, which they make Life of to pufh 

 cc themfelves in and out. They carry a light, which is a torch 

 ic as thick as a man's arm, along with them, that they may fee 

 " how to flrike the Sea Calves : this light they hide in the 

 " boat, that the Sea Calves may not fee the men till they get 

 cc upon the dry rock. When they have got in fo far that they 

 cc feel the ground with their boat-hook, then one of the men 

 " jumps out of the boat into the water up to the neck, and he 

 u carries a club to flrike the animal with, which is called Kobbe- 

 cc GalTe. Another man follows the former with a light in each 

 cC hand, which he is obliged to hold higher than his head, to 

 a keep it above the water : then a third man follows with a Koll, 

 " or Kobbe-GalTe alfo, in his hand, to flrike them with. When 

 cc the young ones, which lie on the ground, fee the light and 

 cC the men, they flrive to get into the water ; as for the old 

 " ones, they get upon their paws, and Hand upon their defences 

 lc with open mouths, efpecially the male, who will often make 

 il the man give way ; for when he flrikes at him he will lay 

 M hold of the flick with his teeth, and wrench it from him, 

 H and throw it allde out oi the man's reach. In this cafe the 

 u third man comes forward with his club, and flrikes him on the 

 u back part of his neck, and fo knocks him down. The females 

 " are not fo bold, but always flrive to get away if they can. 

 tc If they happen to hit the creatures right upon the head, they 

 H are flunn'd with the blow, and then they immediately cut 

 u their throats. When they have deflroyed all the old ones, 

 " then they fall upon the young, which ufually lie quiet a good 

 u way from the water, and neither mind the men nor the lights. 

 a They lie quite flill, and fuffer themfelves to be killed without 

 " refiflance. When the execution is over, they drag the dead 

 H carcalTes to the water, and faften them to the rope, by which 

 " the boat without the entrance hawls them out ; then they 

 " row out with their boat; but if the water be fhallow, the 

 ^ outer boat drags out the other, with the men, 8cc. By this 



" method 



