Page:Across the sub-Arctics of Canada (1897).djvu/178

 ment. A common one among the men is that of competing with each other in throwing the harpoon at a mark on the snow. With such practice they become powerful and expert throwers.

A rather amusing incident happened in this connection at one time during my Eskimo experiences. I, too, had been diligently exercising myself in the art of harpoon throwing, and one day, having become somewhat expert, was thus amusing myself when a party of natives came along. One of their number, doubtless supposing me to be a novice, stood up at what he thought a safe distance, and cried, "Attay me-loo-e-ak took" (Go ahead, throw). Promptly accepting the challenge, I hurled my harpoon, which made so straight for the astonished man's breast that he did not know which way to jump, and barely got out of the way in time to save himself. As the shaft passed him and went crashing through a flour barrel behind where he had stood, his companions had a great laugh at his expense.

Another source of much amusement is the game of foot-ball, which they play with the bladder of a walrus. Their game is played neither according to Rugby nor Association rules, but wholly without rule or system. Men and women, old and young, join in the chase after the ball, with equal delight. "Here a woman, carrying her child on her back, may be seen running at full speed after the ball, and the next moment lying at full length with her naked child floundering in the snow, a few feet beyond her. A minute later, the child is in its place, and the mother, nearly choking with laughter, is seen elbowing her way after the ball again."

A popular kind of indoor sport, played much during