Mariposa Democrat., 1857-06-11
From DR.. Kane's "Arctic Explorations
WnIrus Hunting.

as Murichison Channel, the seal, unicorn, anu
white whale alternate at their appropriate
seasons; but in Smiths Sound these last are
accidental rather than sustained haunts.
The manner Of hunting the walrus depends
in considerable degree on the season of the
year, In the fall, when the pack is but par
tally closed, they are found in numbers, hang
ing around the neutral region of mixed ice and
water, and, as this becomes solid with the adj
vance of winter, following it more and more to
the south.
The Esquimeaux approach them then over
the young ice, and assa them in cracks and
holes with nalegeit and line. This fishery, as
the season grows colder, darker, and more
tempestuous, is fearfully hazardous: scarcely
a year passes without a catastrophe. 1t was
the theme of happy augury last winter, that
no lives had been lost for some months before,
and the angekoks even ventured to prophecy
from it that the hunt would be auspicious-a
prophecy, like some others, hazarded after the
event, for the ice had continued open for the
WalruS I'LL latc IN DecefnueT.
With the earliest spring, or, more strictly,
about month after the reappcarancc of the
sun, the winter famine is generally relieved
January and February are often, in fact nearly
always, months of privaton; but during the
month of March the spring fishery commences.
Everything is then life and excitement
The walrus is now taken in two ways
Sometimes he has risen by the side of an ice
berg, where the currents have worn away the
foe, or through tide.crack, and enjoying the
sunshine too long finds his retreat cut of by
the freezing up of the opening, for, ike the
seal at his attuk, the walrus can only work
from below. When thus caught, the Esqui.
meaux, who with keen hunter craft are scour-
ing the foes, scent him out by their dogs and
spear him.
The early spring is the breeding season, and
the warus then are in their glory My obser-
vations show that they tenant the region
throughout the entire year; but at this time
the female, with her calf is accompanied by
the grim-visaged father surging in loving tros
from crack to crack, sporting around the berg
water or basking in the sun. While thus on
their tours, they invite their vigilant enemies
to the second method of attack. This is also
by the lance and harpoon; but it often be-
comes a regular battle, the male gallanty
fronting the assault and charging the hunters
with furious bravery. Not unfrcquently the
entire family, mother, calf, and bull are killed
in one Of these contests.
The huts-those poor miserable, snowcov-
cred dens--are now scenes of life and activity
Stacks of jointed meat are now piled upon the
ice-ioot; the wonen are stretching the hide for
solc.leathcr, and the men cutting out a reserve
of harpoon lines for the winter. Tusly wal
rus heads stare at you from the snow-bank,
where they are slowed for their ivory; the
dogs are tethered to the ice and the children,
each one armed with the curved rib of some
big amphibion, are playing ball and bat among
the drifts.
On the day of my arrival, four walrus were
killed at Etah, and no doubt many more by
Kalutak at Peteravik. The quantity of beef
thus gained during season Of plenty, one
might suppose should put them beyond winter
want; but there are other causes besides i'm
providence which make their supplies scanty
The poor creatures are not idle; they hunt in
domitably without the loss of day. When
the storms prevent the use of the sedge, they
still work in slowing away the carcasses of
previous hunts An excavation is made either
on the mainland, or what is preferred, upon
an island inaccessible to foxes, and the jointed
meat is stacked inside and covered with heavy
stones. One such cache, which met upon
small island a short distance from Etab, con-
tanned the flesh of ten walrus, and | know of
several others equally large
The excessive consumption is the true ex-
planation of the scarcity By their ancient
laws all share with all and, as they migrate
in numbers as their necessities prompt, the
tax on each particular settlement is excessive
The quantity which the members of family
consume, exhorbtant as it seems to strang-
er, is rather necessity Of their peculiar life
and organization than the result of inconside-
rate gluttony In active exercise and constant
exposure to the cold the waste Of carbon must
be enormous.
When indoors and at rest, tinkering over
their ivory harness rings, fowl nets, or other
household gear, they eat as we often do in
more civilized lands-for animal enjoyment
and to pass away the time. But when on the
hunt they take but one meal a day, and that
after the days labor is over; they 60 out on
the ice without breakfast, and, except the
"cold cuts" which l confess are numerous
eat nothing until their return. l would aver
age the Esquimeaux ration in season of
plenty-it is of course a mere estimate, but
believe perfectly fair one--at eight or ten
pounds day. with soup and water to the ex-
tent of half gallon.
AT the moment Of my visit, when returning
plenty had just broken in upon their famine, it