upon the land or
ice. His body is very large, and full of oil, and behind he has two legs
which resemble fins, with which he swims in the water. This animal is
the constant prey of the Greenlander, and furnishes him with all he
wants. The flesh he eats, the fat serves him to feed his lamp, which is
almost as necessary as food itself in that cold climate. With the skin
he makes clothes that are impenetrable to the water, or lines the inside
of his hut to keep out the weather. As this animal is so necessary to
the existence of a Greenlander, it is his greatest glory to chase and
take him. For this purpose he places himself in a small narrow boat, the
top of which is covered over with the skins of seals, and closes round
the middle of the fisher so tight as entirely to exclude the water. He
has a long oar, or paddle, broad at both ends, which he dips first on
one side, then on the other, and rows along with incredible swiftness
over the roughest seas. He carries with him a harpoon, which is a kind
of lance or javelin, tied to a long thong, at the end of which is fixed
a bladder, or some other light thing that sinks with difficulty. When
the fisherman is thus prepared, he skims lightly along the waters, till
he perceives at a distance one of these animals floating upon the
surface. The Greenlander then approaches him as softly as he is able,
and, if possible, contrives that the animal shall have the wind and sun
in his eyes. When he is sufficiently near he throws his harpoon, and
generally wounds the creature, in which case he instantly hurries away,
and carries with him the thong and bladder. But it is not long before he
is compelled to rise again to the surface of the water to breathe; and
then the Greenlander, who has been pursuing him all the time, attacks
him anew, and dispatches him with a shorter lance, which he has brought
with him for that purpose. He then ties his prey to his boat, and tows
it after him to his family, who receive it with joy, and dress it for
their supper. Although these poor people live a life of such continual
fatigue, and are obliged to earn their food with so much hardship, they
are generous and hospitable in the management of it, for there is not a
person present but is invited to partake of the feast; and a Greenlander
would think himself dishonoured for life, if he should be thought
capable of wishing to keep it all to himself.

_Tommy._--I think it seems as if the less people had the more