“When the hunters in their canoes perceive a large herd sleeping on the floating ice, as is their custom, they paddle to some other piece near them which is small enough to be moved. On this they lift their canoes and then bore several holes through which they fasten their tough lines, and when everything is ready they silently paddle the hummock towards their prey, each man sitting by his own line and spear. In this manner they reach the ice on which the walruses lie snoring, and if they please, each man may strike an animal, though in general two persons attack the same beast. The wounded and startled walrus rolls instantly to the water, but the harpoon being well fixed he cannot escape from the hummock of ice to which the Eskimo have fastened the line. When the animal becomes a little weary, the hunter launches his canoe, and, lying out of reach of the animal’s fearful tusks, spears him to death.” At one time whaling was a favourite occupation of the central Eskimo, and in some places it is continued to the present day, chiefly by pursuing the whale with a great number of kayaks and skin boats of a larger pattern. The creature is followed by numerous hunters, each of whom endeavours to drive his harpoon into the animal, which, from loss of blood and the resistance caused by harpoon lines, floats, and framework, is tired out, and killed with lances. During the very short summer, herds of deer wander in search of herbage, and the Eskimo follows on foot in order to secure a supply of deer skins, which are fit for clothing only when taken at this period. The snow huts have been abandoned, and the hunter takes with him a light portable tent of reindeer hide, which is often pitched near the shores of a lake habitually crossed by the herd. Sometimes the hunting party is divided, and while some men drive the frightened animals into the water, others sit in “kayaks” waiting for the deer to swim by. A lake into which a long narrow peninsula projects is considered very suitable, for a number of hunters extended in skirmishing order can drive the herd along the narrow projection of land, and eventually into the lake. Kayaks are propelled more quickly than the animals can swim, so they are overtaken and killed with the spear. At times the deer does a little hunting, and if provided with a stout pair of antlers he will rip open the boat and make the Eskimo swim hard for the shore. [Illustration: ESKIMO SUMMER TENT OF BEAR SKIN AND SEAL SKIN, AND SNOW HUT.]