''COMMON SEAL. 
191 
the caverns where the seals reside about midnight* 
and row in as far as they can. They then land ; 
and* being properly stationed* begin by making a 
great noise which alarms the animals* and brings 
them down from all parts in a confused hurry, 
uttering frightful shrieks and cries. In this ha- 
zardous employment* much care is necessary on the 
part of the hunters* to avoid the throng”* which 
presses down upon them with great impetuosity* 
and bears away every thing that opposes its pro- 
gress ; but when the first crowd has passed* they 
kill great numbers of young ones* which generally 
straggle behind* striking them on the nose* 
where a very slight blow soon destroys them. 
To the inhabitants of Greenland ike different 
species of seals are indispensably necessary towards 
their existence. The sea is to them* what corn- 
fields are to us ; and the seal fishery is their most 
copious harvest. The flesh supplies them with 
their principal* most palatable* and substantial 
food. Their fat furnishes them with oil for their 
lamps and fires ; they use it also with their food ; 
and barter it for other necessaries with the factor. 
They find the fibres of the sinews better for sewing 
with than thread or silk. Of the skins of the en- 
trails they make their windows* curtains for their 
tents* and shirts ; and part of the bladders they 
use in fishing* as buoys or floats to their har- 
poons. Of the bones they formerly made all those 
instruments and working tools that are now sup- 
plied to them by the introduction of iron. Even 
the blood is not lost ; for they boil that* w ith 
other ingredients* as soup. Of the skins they 
form clothing* coverings for their beds* houses* 
and boats* and thongs and straps of every de&crip-*. 
tion. To be able to take seals* is the height of 
the Greenlander^ desires and pride; and. to tbit 
labour* which is in truth an arduous one* they 
