160 
A JOURNEY TO THE 
1771. of Hudfon’s Bay; fpearing in Summer, and ang. : 
t-—~———' ling in Winter, are the only methods they have | 
July. 
yet devifed to catch fifh, though at times their | 
whole dependance for fupport is on that article*. 
When 
* When the Efquimaux who refide near Churchill River travel in Win- 
ter, itis always from lake to lake, or from river to river, where they have 
formed magazines of provifions, and heaps of mofs for firing. As fome 
of thofe places are at a confiderable diftance from each other, and fome of 
the lakes of confiderable width, they frequently pitch their tents on the” | 
ice, and inftead of having a fire, which the feverity of the climate fo much 
requires, they cut holes in the ice within their tents, and there fit and 
angle for fifh; if they meet with any fuccefs, the fifh are eaten alive out of - 
the water ; and when they are thirfty, water, their ufual beverage, is at 
hand. 
When L firft entered into the employment of the Hudfon’s Bay Compa- 
ny, it was as Mate of one of their floops which was employed in trading 
with the Efquimaux; I had therefore frequent opportunities of obferving 
the miferable manner in which thofe people live. In the courfe of our. 
trade with them we frequently purchafed feveral feal-fkin bags, which we 
fuppofed were full of oil; but on opening them have fometimes found 
great quantities of venifon, feals, and fea-horfe paws, as well as falmon; 
and as thefe were of noufe to us, we always returned them to the Indians, 
who eagerly devoured them, though fome of the articles had been perhaps 
a whole year in that ftate; and they feemed to exult greatly in having fo 
over-reached us in the way of trade, as to have fometimes one third of. 
their bargain returned. 
This method of preferving their food, though it effe€tually guards it from © 
the external air, and from the flies, does not prevent putrefaétion entire- ~ 
ly, though it renders its progrefs very flow. Pure train oil is of fucha 
quality that it never freezes folid in the coldeft Winters; a happy circum-- 
{tance for thofe people, who are condemned to live in the moft rigorous 
climate without the affiftance of fire. While thefe magazines laft, they — 
have nothing more to do when hunger affails them, but to open one of the 
bags, take out a fide of venifon, a few feals, fea-horfe paws, or fome half=_ 
rotten falmon, and without any preparation, fit down and make a meal; 
and the lake or river by which they pitch their tent, affords them water, 
which is their conftant drink. Befides the extraordinary food already men- 
tioned, they have feveral other difhes equally difeufting to an European 
palate; I will only mention one, as it was more frequently part of their 
repaft when I yifited their tents, than any other, except fith,. The dith I 
- allude 
