Amador ledger., 1909-11-05

Esklmos must not only gather the
greatest number possible, but must
prepare the skirs and make them into
proDerly fitting garments.
In other places reindeer were abun-
dant. This skin was very much in
demand for sleeping bags. while the
sinew was required for thread. in
still other places seal was the luck of
the chase, and its skin was one OF our
most important needs. OF 1t boots
were ordered, and an immense amount
of line and lashings was prepared.
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 we'll done and with
much better knowledge of the fitness
of things than could be done by any
possible gathering Of white men.
Use oF ttc NarwhaI.
The quest of the walrus and the mar
whal came in our own immediate plan
of adventure The unicorn. or mar
whal, does not often come under the
pye 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 usefuT material. The
blubber is the pride of every house.
keeper, for it gives long, hot fame
to the lamp with no smoke to spot
the igloo finery The skfn is regarded
as quite a delicacy. Curt into squares,
It looks and tastes like scnTIops, with
only a slight aroma Of trufn oil.
The meat dries easily and is thus
Drized as on appetizer or as lunch
TO he eaten en- route in sled or kayak.
In this shape 1t was an extremely use-
ful thing for us, for it TOOK the place
of pemmican for our less urgent jour
neys.
The narwhal. which. apart from its
usefulness. is most interesting to den
fzens 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 abont camp was manned, and
the EskimOs' skin canoes went like
birds over the water. Some of the
Tskimos rose to the ice fields and de-
lfvered harpoons from n secure foot
frg. Others hid behind floating frag-
n1ents of heavy ice and made d sudden
rush as the animals passed.
Still others came up in the rear, Tor
the narwhal cannot easily see back
ward and does not often turn to watch
IT'S enemies it's speed being so fast
that it can easily keep ahead of other
troublesome creatures.
Hunting the Narwhah
The harpoon is always delivered at |.
close range. When the dragging float |
marked the end of the line in tow of
the frightened creature the line Of
skin canoes followed. The narwhaI is
timid by nature. Fearing to rise for
breath. he plunged along until nearly |
Strangulated. When it did come up
there were several EslSimos 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 it's speed
slackened. and line of crimson mark
ed it's hidden path. Loss of blood and
want of air did not give it chance
to fight. 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 sue
cumbed, offering a prize of several
thousand pounds of meat and blubber. |
Victory, as rule, was not gained until
the hunters were f@r from home. also
far from the shore line. But the Els
llimo is courageous hunter and an
intelligent seaman.
Towing the Carcass.
To the huge carcass frail kayaks
were hitched in long line. Towing
is slow, wind and sea combining to
make the task difficult and dangerous