mss142-vasilevShishmarev-i3-056

–106 –

ivory with a serrated and pointed flint instead of iron; the
other end is feathered. It is thrown from a small board one
third as long as the arrow. Approaching closely, he follows
all the movements of the whale. Always keeping it on
his right side, he waits until its left fin comes out of the
water. Then he throws the arrow with the usual marksmanship,
and plunges it into the heart of the animal. Receiving the
blow, the whale generally leaps out of the water in a frenzy,
and striking its tail on the surface, plunges to the bottom.
This is the most dangerous moment for the hunter. The baidars
of the Aleuts are extremely unsteady, and if the hunter does
not succeed in rowing out of the way immediately after the
blow, the sudden waves will swamp him or a blow with the tail
will smash a clumsy one. Generally, the Aleut is satisfied
with his booty if he kills one whale, although he might have
killed a few more that are found on the surface on a warm
sunny day.

Sea lions and sea otters are also killed with arrows,
but only in their dens. This kind of arrow is much longer
and thicker than those of the whales, and are used like spears.
They do not go alone for this pursuit, but all adult Aleuts,
together. Coming to the place where these animals are lying,
they all step out suddenly on shore and with clubs try to
stun them, and straightaway plunge their spears into their
open jaws. Sivuch, or sea lion, is an awkwardly large animal,
resembling a seal, but only of a more dirty yellow color with