ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 97 



as much, as they are able to cook with the heather found in abun- 

 dance on the vast plains of the lake, and burn deer marrow in their 

 lamps. 



Now and then they secure a^eal in the lake, but they cannot rely 

 on their hunt as these animals are too few in number. In the west- 

 ern part of the lake they seem to be more plentiful; but in the east- 

 ern portion their number has been greatly diminished. I suppose 

 that this is principally the reason why the Tellirpingmiut do not 

 any longer stay all the year round on the shores of the lake as many 

 of them formerly did. They seem to have spent there the greater 

 portion of their lives, occasionally visiting the seaside to provide 

 themselves with skins of the young and old seals. It very seldom 

 happens now that any men winter inland, as the number of seals 

 is too small. In the spring of the year they live on deer and the 

 innumerable birds which are caught while molting. The Eskimos 

 return to the entrance of Neltilling fiord about the beginning of 

 December, when the ice in the fiords is strong and well covered with 

 snow. 



The other Okomiut, who are settled in four places on the west 

 shore, two on the east shore, and one between Cape Mercy and 

 Cape Micklesham, never leave the coast for any length of time. 

 Only a few go in their boats also to Lake Nettilling, as this is the 

 best place for deer hunting. They leave after the breaking up of 

 the ice in July and return during the first days of October. 



By far the most of them spend the summer at the head of the fiords 

 whence they start deer hunting inland, returning after a few days' 

 absence. The old men and tlie women meanwhile live on salmon 

 which are caught in abundance in the small rivers emptying into 

 the fiords. In winter they settle on the islands nearest to the open 

 sea. Throughout the cold months until the sun rises higher they 

 go sealing with the harpoon, watching the seal at its breathing hole. 

 In March, while the seal brings forth its young, all the natives are 

 eager to secure as large a number as possible of young seal skins, 

 which are highly valued for the under jackets and winter pants for 

 men and women. 



In the fall the inhabitants of Saumia and Padli secure a great 

 number of walruses which supply them with food and blubber until 

 late in the winter. They only go sealing in order to enjoy them- 

 selves, as they generally have sufficient walrus meat to last them the 

 whole year. 

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