418 
morton’s journey. 
Esquimaux. This formed a sort of “ double purchase.” 
the blubber so lubricating the cord as to admit of a 
free movement. By this contrivance the beast, weigh¬ 
ing some seven hundred pounds, was hauled up and 
butchered at leisure. 
The two sledges now journeyed homeward, carrying 
the more valued parts of their prize. The intestines 
and a large share of the carcass were buried up in the 
cavities of a berg: Lucullus himself could not have 
dreamed of a grander icehouse. 
As they doubled the little island which stood in 
front of their settlement, the women ran down the 
rocks to meet them. A long hail carried the good 
news; and, as the party alighted on the beach, knives 
were quickly at work, the allotment of the meat being 
determined by well-understood hunter laws. The 
Esquimaux, however gluttonously they may eat, evi¬ 
dently bear hunger with as little difficulty as excess. 
None of the morning party had breakfasted; yet it 
was after ten o’clock at night before they sat down 
to dinner. “ Sat down to dinner!” This is the only 
expression of our own gastrology which is applicable 
to an Esquimaux feast. They truly sit down, man, 
