506 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 
[chap. 
Our hunters now made hunting excursions in different 
directions, but the supply of game was scanty. The openings 
in the ice probably swarmed with seals, but they were too dis¬ 
tant, and without a boat it was impossible to carry on any 
hunting there. Not a single Polar bear now appeared to be 
visible in the neighbourhood, although bears’ skulls are found at 
CHUKCH BONE-CARVINGS. 
(Tlie two largest figures represent bears.) 
several places on the beach, and this animal appears to play a 
great part in the imagination of the natives, to judge of the 
many figures of bears among the bone carvings I purchased 
from the Chukches. The natives often have a small strip of 
bear’s skin on the seat of their sledges, but I have not seen 
any whole bear’s skin here ; perhaps the animal is being exter- 
