Evening journal., 1909-09-22

seal was the luck of the chase and its
skin was one of our most important needs
OF it boots were ordered and an immense
amount of line and lashings was pre-
pared.
Thus in one way or another every man,
woman and most Of the children of this
tribe Of $50 people were kept busy in
the service Of the expedition. The work
was well done and with much better
knowledge of the fitness of things than
could be found in any possible gathering
of white men.
Use Of The Naryvhnl
The quest Of the walrus and the mar.
whal came in our own immediate plan
ot adventure. The unicorn, or narwhal,
does not often come under the eye Of
the white man, though one of the FIRST
animals TO leave our shores.
1t gave for a brief spell good results in
sport and useful material The blubber
is the pride Of every housekeeper. for
1t gives a long, bot flame to the lamp,
with no smoke to spot the igloo hnery.
The skin is regarded as quite a delicacv.
Cut into squares it looks and tastes ike
scallops with only a slight aroma of train
oil.
The meat dries easily aud is thu,
lpnzed as an appetizer or as a lunch 10
l. eaten ell route in sled or kayak. In
this shape it was an extremely useful
thing for us, for it took the place Of
pemmican for our less urgent journeys.
The narwhsl, which. apart from II,
usefulness, is most interesting to denizens
of the Arctic deep, played in schools far
off shore, usually along the edge Of large
ice. It's long ivory tusks rose under
spouts Of breath and spray.
When this glad sight was noted every
Kayak about camp was manned and the
Hitter Of skin canoes went like birds
over the water. Some Of the Eskimos
rose to the ice fields aud delivered har-
poons from a secure footing. Others bid
behind floating fragments of heavy ice
and made a sudden rush as the animals
passed.
Still others came up in the rear, for
the narwhal cannot easily see backward
and does not often turn to watch its
enemies, its speed being SO fast that it
can easily keep ahead Of other trouble
some creatures.
Hunting the Narwhaf.
The harpoon is always delivered at
close range. When the dragging foat
marked the end Of the line in tow of
the frightened creature the line Of skin
canoes followed. The narwhal is timid
by nature. Fearing to rise for breath,
he plunged along until nearly strangu-
lated. When it did come up there were
several Eskimos near with drawn lances,
which inflicted deep gashes.
Again the narwhal plunged deep down
with but one breath and hurried along
as best it could. But its speed slackeued
and a line of crimson marked its hidden
path. Loss of blood and want Of air
did not give it a chance to tight. Again
it came up with a spout Again the
lances were hurled.
The battle continued for several hours.
with many exciting adventures, but in the
end the narwhal always succumbed. Of
fering a prize of several thousands Of
pounds Of meat and blubber Victory az
a rule was not gained until the hunters
were far from home, also far from the
shore line. But the Eskimo is courage
Gus hunter aud an intelligent seaman.
To the huge carcass trail kayaks were
hitched in a long line. Towing is slow,
wind and sea combining to make the task
difficult and dangerous. One sees nothing
of the narwhal and very little of the
kayak, for dashing seas wash over the
little craft, but the double bladed paddles
see-saw with the regularity Of pendulum.
Homecoming takes many hours and en-
genders a prodigious amount of hard
work, but there is energy to spare, for a
wealth Of meat and fat is the elimination
of all Eskimo ambition.
Seven of these ponderous animals were
brought in during five days, making a
heap of more than forty thousand pounds
Of food and fuel. Then the narwhal sud
denly disappeared aud We saw no more Of
them.
Three whte whales were also obtained
in a similac way at Etah at about the
same time.
End Third Instnlmcnt.