HUNTING FOR A LIVING. 



415 



ter. Everybody had to go hunting. Those who lived with 

 poor huntsmen fared worse than the others, and had fre- 

 quently to depend on themselves or go hungry. Ensign 

 Stoney was quartered with a poor hunter, and did most of 

 the hunting for the entire family ; but the head of the house 

 generally accompanied him and looked out for his safety 

 like a faithful slave. If the ice was suspicious looking, he 

 would go ahead with a long pole. 



CHUKCHE COUNTRY HARES. 



Sometimes hunting was done several miles out on the ice, 

 and then perhaps a large seal would have to be dragged home 

 through snow two or three feet deep. Ducks and rabbits 

 were frequently captured. Deer were scarce and seen only 

 a long distance inland. When hunting had to be suspended 

 during a long spell of bad weather, there would be almost a 

 famine in the villages. Small quantities of the ship's provi- 

 sion were dealt out once a month. 



The Chukches are a hardy race, but exceedingly indolent 

 when want of food does not force them to exertion. There 



