OF THE POLAR SEA. 179 
larly in the bull, which is larger and more un- 
sightly than the cow. The most esteemed part 
of the animal is the hump, called by the Canadians 
bos, by the Hudson’s Bay people the wig ; it is 
merely a strong muscle, on which nature at cer- 
tain seasons forms a considerable quantity of fat. 
It is attached to the long spinous processes of 
the first dorsal vertebre, and seems to be destin- 
ed to support the enormous head of the animal. 
The meat which covers the spinal processes them- 
selves, after the wig is removed, is next in es- 
teem for its flavour and juicinéss, and is more 
exclusively termed the hump by the hunters. 
The party was prevented from visiting a Stone 
Indian encampment by a heavy fall of snow, which 
made it impracticable to go and return the same 
day. We were dissuaded from sleeping at their 
tents bythe interpreter at the N.W. post, who 
told us they considered the diseases of hooping- 
cough and measles, under which they were now 
suffering, to have been introduced by some white 
people recently arrived in the country, and that 
he feared those who had lost relatives, imagining 
we were the persons, might vent their revenge 
onus. We regretted to learn that these diseases 
have been so very destructive among the tribes 
along the Saskatchawan, as to have carried off 
about three hundred persons, Crees and Assee- 
N 2 
