Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-10-30

purpose he has barbed spear, several inches
long, made of steel, and very snarP, which IS
attached to an ivory point about eight inches in
length, the whole to staff seven or eight feet
length aud woand half inches in diameter to
the steel is attached line forty feet in length,
made of the hide of Walrus, and this is fas
tened to a bladder made of the SKIN of seal,
and filled with air, laying on the after part of
the boat When the spear enters the seal, it is
arranged so that it disongages itself from the
ivory point, by the point slipping at the same in
slant from the stats, but it is attacheuby string
and floats with it, while at the same time the
bladder to which the line is attached, is thrown
overheard, preventing The seal from shking any
farther than the length Of the line sae staff and'
seal then are recovered at his leisure. For
killing water fowl, of which there are but few,
a sharp round spear is used, attached to staff
seven feet in length. These spears are thro wn
with astonishing accuracy, rarely, if ever miss
ing their mark. Another manner, and the east
est by far of spearing the seal, is by doing it
through hole in the ice where they come up to
breathe; they will frequently scratch holes thro'
the ice from the under SIDE where it is several
feet thick, TO get fresh air; the natives are ac-
customed to the noise made by scratching, and
will hear them long distance and watch for
them, and as soon as they make their appearance
they are at once killed and secured. The Off
GERS of the Advance, also brought with them
several Esgumaux dogs. These animals are
very doce and peaceable in their disposition,
allowing any one to handle them familiarly, but
they may have changed somewhat in their dis
position by being confined SO long on board a
vessel filled with civilized people: their appe-
tites are very voracious, eating at one meal as
much as would satisfy three common American
dogs. Their appearance at first sight reminds
one of the wolf, having similar head, mouth,
and ears, E; their feet and tail are also similar to
a prairie wolf but the eyes are brighter and
have more intelligent expression if the term
may be used) than the wolf or any other animal
of the kind Their size is near that of small
well.set bull dog, and very heavy. One of them
on board of the Advance, Ia female) has long
straight hair, of brownish white, tail the same,
another (male) on the back and sides and head
is black, and the other parts the same as the le-
male, but the hair is shorter. They are very
strong, and we witnessed one of them break
good sized cord which he was tied with, without
appearing to exert himself much in the effort.
Another great curiosity is the skia Of white
bear, killed by one OF the officers, which meas :
ured eight feet nine inches from tip's0 up The
a.. &c ,i,i- hoar measures twenty-ca2 ipehes %
length, including the claws, and a58ue fifteea
inches wide; and he weight was .bout 1909
pounds. He was killed with buck shot, on the
4th Of September 1850, while swimming in the
water, under the bows of the vessel, impelled
there probably by curiosity or hunger. They
are easily managed when in the water but on
the ice it is very difficult TO get near them after
they are wounded. The officers of the expedi-
ton killed quite number, and one night en-
camped within fifty yards of one asleep, but be-
ing fatigued, did not disturb him.
A horn of North Whale presents quite a n o.
vel feature in the collection. These whaI es
have horn extending from the Top of their
heads forward, varying in length from one to
twelve feet, and are straight and grooved as il
by art in spiral form. The groove is raised a.
bout the eighth of an inch winding towards the
point, and it IS very formidable means of de.
fence. The one brought home is about five fee
in length and two inches in diameter at the butt
end, and running to point at the other These
whales which are very plenty, are spotted, and
about the size of bumped back whale. A white
whale with green back was seen in largo mum
bers, thousands in school. Many whaling
ships were seen near Melville's Bay. In this
Bay many whale ships are wrecked every season
One captain was seen who had been wrecked
r three times in one day, 75d 30m N. Latitude il
the first place loosing his own vessel, and barely
escaping with his life to an other, and another
which we're successfully wrecked the same day
Tribe-de- Russo, or Russian Moss,-This is
q moss similar to that which is found 90 rocks il
many parts of this country its chief interest it
that Sir John Franklin and his party, in their for
q mer expedition, lived on it for several weeks b.
: boiling it in water This information was fur
4 nished by man of the name of Hepburne, VIII
f was with Sir John, and is now residing at Hol
@ stenberg, near Davis Bay. 1t is said that thi
o moss will support life three or four saaG.hs.
Red Snow Water This remarkable produc
ton was,actually discovered on Grimson's Cliffs
y Beverly. Greenland, lat. 76d 3m. AT disanc,
=. the tops of the cliffs appeared to be deep re-
color as though the whole surface Of the snoy
r was the same, but upon nearer approach it wa
4, discovered to be scattered about in small spots
from ten feet square down to mere drops, an
was only light scum. When melted, it still
:, retained its COLOR as it does at the present time
n There seems to be no accounting for this sngula
Y phenomenon
1t An iceberg was ascended, and the heigl
measured, by dropping lead ball, mot yer
th accurate way, howeveD which was timed an
- Judged to be 300 feet above water. If this
" correct, it must have extended under water
n great distance 1t was ascended with great dl
% fculty, being very steep, and necessary to cut
lis foothold every step. In the ascent Lieut., Lo
IT. ell slid down, caused by mishaP, about oil
a hundred feet, and when he picked himself u
nd found that he was considerably bruised by Il
a operation.
at During the time the Advance was frozen |
d. in the ice, the men and officers Practlced eve
ht day in drawing the sledges as they were expe