DEER-SHOOTING 47 



every preparation without comment ; and he would per- 

 form all the hard work when we were alone together, 

 though at other times he was prone to spare himself. 



Often he would enter my hut, and squatting on the 

 floor, would remain hours quietly smoking and looking at 

 my books, for he was exceedingly fond of pictures. He 

 never uttered any greeting or took his leave, but came and 

 went abruptly, as is the usual manner of all the Indians ; 

 and he would answer with a grunt when spoken to, unless 

 a reply was absolutely necessary. Yet he was a brave 

 and faithful man. I had abundant evidence of that 

 before circumstances compelled us to part. 



On the excursions I have mentioned, and which were 

 always performed on snow-shoes, we met with but little 

 big game during the latter part of the winter. I shot, 

 altogether, three moose and about a dozen cariboo, but I 

 met with no adventures in their pursuit. 1 will there- 

 fore, before changing the subject, make a few remarks 

 on American deer-shooting generally, and these remarks 

 apply to the northern parts of the States, as well as to 

 the British possessions. In the former region there are 

 small deer which are not found in Canada at all events, 

 as far north as most of my wanderings refer to. These 

 small deer, as well as the cariboo, moose, and wipiti, and 

 many other animals, are passionately fond of salt, and 

 they habitually frequent " salt-licks " wherever these are 

 found. 



Salt-licks are not abundant in this part of America ; 

 therefore, if you can find one, you are sure of good sport 

 until the deer become too much scared to venture to the 

 lick. A salt-lick is simply a saline spring. They gene- 

 rally dry up in the summer-time, but, the earth being 

 thoroughly impregnated with the salt, they are still 

 visited by the deer, which lick the ground to obtain the 

 saline particles. The deer and other animals come from 

 such great distances to obtain this salt that it is clear 

 they must retain a very lively recollection of its position. 



