It was usually a considerable time before they succeeded in catching a spark; but, once caught, they had no difficulty in blowing it into a flame.
They had also an ingenious contrivance for melting snow.

This was a flat stone, supported by two other stones, and inclined slightly at one end.
Upon this flat stone a lump of snow was placed, and below it was kindled a small fire of moss and blubber.

When the stone became heated, the snow melted and flowed down the incline into a small seal-skin cup placed there to catch it.
During the continuance of the storm the sailors shared the food and lodging of these Esquimaux.

They were a fat, oily, hospitable, dirty race, and vied with each other in showing kindness to those who had been thus thrown into their society.

As Davie Summers expressed it, "they were regular trumps;" and according to Buzzby's opinion, "they wos the jolliest set o' human walruses wot he had ever comed across in all his travels; and he ought to know, for he had always kep' his weather-eye open, he had, and wouldn't give in on that p'int, he wouldn't, to no man livin'.".