Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-24

and swallow it. The heat Of its body would
thaw the blubber. releasing the whalebone,
which would straighten out and pierce the
walls Of the stomach, thus killing the WOLF The
beast could not 60 far after swallowing one Of
these blubber balls.
SEAL CATCHING.
The most common method Of hunting the
seal is to wait at its breathing hole in the ice
and shoot or spear 1t as it comes up for air.
The native thus engaged has frequently to
stand for hours motionless. His feet would be-
come very cold though they are SO warmly
clad in fur, were it not for little three-legged
stool which he carries with him. On this he
stands or squats, wrapped in q deer-skin cloak
and holding his weapon in readiness. Mean
while he whistles gently or scratches on the ice
with sort OF claw made for the purpose to en-
tice the game. Seals have a great deal Of curl
osity and are easily attracted by any unusual
sounds.
The best season for seal catching begins with
the closing of the sea, about the middle of
October. When the pack ice comes in there
are many small open pools to which the animals
resort for air. Most Of the able-bodied men in
the village 60 out every day armed with rife
and harpoon, travelling many miles among the
Ice hummocks in search Of such food. This
method Of hunting is practiced through the
winter. native going to visit hfs nets al
ways carries his weapons in case he should
come across Q sea otter. The hunt at this
season is accompanied with considerable
solidated, and portions Of it frequently move
OF shore with a shift Of the wind. so that the
hunter runs risk of being carried out to sea.
The natives generally avoid crossing crack II
the wind Is blowing from the land; but, in
spite OF their precautions, men are carried
away every now and then never to return.
On the morning Of November "a, 1889. all Of
the heavy ice at Point Barrow broke away from
the shore and began to move rapidly to the
northeast, carrying with it three seal hunters.
Fortunately, they were near enough to the vii
lage to be seen by loungers on a hill, who gave
the alarm boat was Immediately mounted
on sled and carried out over the shore ice
with great rapidity, rescuing the mon before it
was too late. The promptness and energy with
which the people at the village acted showed
how well the danger was appreciated.
PURSUING THE WHALE.
The pursuit Of the bowhead whale is carried
on with much system and great formality. It
is valuable not only for the food furnished
by its flesh and skin, and the oil from its blub-
Der. but for the whalebone which serves so
many useful purposes in the arts Of the
Eskimo, and is the chief article Of trade with
ships About the middle Of April the season
is on the point Of beginning, and the natives
begin anxiously to expect an east or south
east wind to drive of the pack ice.
should it not speedily blow from that
quarter, recourse is had to supernatural means
for bringing it. party OF men 60 out and sit
in a semicircle facing the sea on the village
cliff. while one in the middle beats q drum and
sings monotonous chant, interrupted by Gu
rtous vibrating cries. accompanied BY q violent
shaking of the head from side to side This
ceremony is conducted with great solemnity.
II appears that the chant is addressed to q
spirit, requesting him to make the desired