THE ESQUIMAUX. 803 



he was twenty hours in getting through thera, and certainly did not consider 

 the quantity extraordinary. 



lbs. Oz. 



Sea-horse flesh, hard frozen. 4 4 



" " boiled 4 4 



Bread and bread-dust 1 12 



Total of solids 10 4 



The fluids were in fair proportion, viz., rich gravy soup, 1^ pint ; raw spirits, 3 wine-glasses j strong 

 grog, 1 tumbler ; water, 1 gallon 1 pint.* 



Kane averages the Esquimaux ration in a season of plenty at eight or ten 

 pounds a day, with soup and water to the extent of half a gallon, and finds in 

 this excessive consumption — which is rather a necessity of their peculiar life 

 and organization than the result of gluttony — the true explanation of the scarci- 

 ty from which they frequently suffer. In times of abundance they hunt in- 

 domitably without the loss of a day, and stow away large quantities of meat. 

 An excavation is made either on the mainland — or, what is preferred, on an isl- 

 and inaccessible to foxes — and the flesh is stacked inside and covered with 

 heavy stones. One such cache which Kane met on a small island contained 

 the flesh of ten walruses, and he knew of others equally large. But by their an- 

 cient custom, all share with all ; and as they migrate in numbers as their neces- 

 sities prompt, the tax on each particular settlement is not seldom so excessive 

 that even considerable stores are unable to withstand the drain, and soon make 

 way for pinching hunger, and even famine. 



* Captain Hall, who in his search after the remains of the Franklin expedition spent several years 

 among the Esquimaux, and had so far acquired their appetite that he was able to consume 9 lbs. of meat 

 a day without any inconvenience. 



