482 
FEATS 
OF THE KAYACKER. 
over his little craft, man and boat were lifted bodily 
on board. 
Going out to seaward, with a heavy inshore surf 
rolling, is no trifle, even to well-manned whale-boats. 
The kayacker paddles quietly out toward the break- 
# ers. The roaring lip of green water bends roof-like 
over him. Down cowers the pliant man, his right 
shoulder buried in the water, and his hooded head 
bowed upon his breast. An instant and he emerges 
on the outer side with a jutting impulse, shaking the 
water from his mane, and preparing for a fresh en- 
counter. 
The somerset, the " cantrum," as the whalers term 
it, may be seen any hour of the. day for a plug of to- 
bacco or a glass of rum. I have seen it with different 
degrees of address ; but one, that Mr. Miiller, the gov- 
ernor of Holsteinberg, told me of, is the perfection of 
dextrous overturning. The kayacker takes a stone, 
as large as he can grasp in his hand, holding the pad- 
dle by the imperfect grip of the thumbs. He whirls 
his hands over his head, upsets his little bark, buries 
it bottom up, and rights himself on the other side, 
still holding the stone. 
But after all, the crowning feat is the every-day 
one of catching the seal. For this the kayack is con- 
structed, and it is here that its wonderful adaptation 
of purpose is best displayed. Without describing the 
admirable astuteness with which he finds and ap- 
proaches his prey, let us suppose the kayacker close 
upon a seal. The line-stand is carefally examined, the 
coil adjusted, the attachments to the body of the boat 
so fixed that the slightest strain will separate them. 
The bladder-float is disengaged, and the harpoon tipped 
with its barb, which forms the extremity of the coil. 
