NORTHERN OCEAN. 363 
frequently kill and eat thofe that are heavy load- 
ed, and cannot keep up with the main body. 
The Northern Indians have formed flrange ideas 
of this animal, as they think it does not eat its 
victuals raw ; but by a fingular and wonderful 
fagacity, peculiar to itfelf, has a method of cook- 
ing them without fire. The females are much 
{wifter than the males; for which reafon the Jn- 
dians, both Northern and Southern, are of opint- 
on that they kill the greateft part of the game. 
This cannot, however, always be the cafe; for to 
the North of Churchill they, in general, live a for- 
lorn life all the Winter, and are feldom feen in 
pairs till the Spring, when they begin to couple; 
and generally keep in pairs all the Summer. 
They always burrow under-ground to bring 
forth their yonng; and though it is natural to 
fuppofe them very fierce at thofe times, yet I 
have frequently feen the Indians go to their dens, 
and take out the young ones and play with them. 
I never knew a Northern Indian hurt one of 
them: on the contrary, they always put them 
carefully into the den again; and I have fome- 
times feen them paint the faces of the young 
Wolves with vermillion, or red ochre. 
The Arctic Foxes are in fome years remarka- foxes of 
bly plentiful, but generally moft fo on the barren ("°° 
ground, near the fea-coaft. Notwithftanding 
what has been faid of this animal only vifiting the 
fettlements once in five or feven years, | can aflirm 
there is not one year in twenty that they are not 
: caught 
