44 TRIBES OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA 



strong strip of sinew, which is bound firmly to the 

 wooden portion. The bowstring is manufactured 

 from sinew ; and the arrow tips, formerly cleverly 

 made by flaking pieces of slate, are now replaced 

 by sharpened scraps of tin or iron riveted into a 

 slit at the pointed end of the shaft, to the other 

 extremity of which a few feathers of the owl are 

 fastened in order to give a true flight. A large 

 quiver of seal skin is divided into compartments 

 containing the arrows, the bow, arid a number of 

 spare arrow tips. A handle of ivory serves as a 

 means of carrying the quiver when the hunter is 

 travelling, but as soon as game is in sight, the 

 quiver is slung over the left shoulder. 



Eskimo dogs are eager in the pursuit of herds 

 of the musk ox, which always defends itself by 

 forming a circle around the calves. While the oxen 

 are busy keeping a number of ferocious dogs at 

 bay, the hunters approach and let fly their arrows 

 into the herd. Sometimes an infuriated animal 

 breaks from the defensive ring, and at such times 

 the Eskimo is saved by his dogs, who harass the 

 creatures until the hunter is again prepared to 

 shoot. Polar bears are pursued by hunters on light 

 sledges, and when the quarry is exhausted by the 

 chase, the traces of the most reliable dogs are cut, 

 and very soon the bear is standing at bay, striking 

 fiercely at the dogs with his huge forepaws, until 

 the hunter is able to come up and launch a spear 

 or arrow. The best season for bear hunting is 

 March or April, when the bears come a considerable 

 distance inland in pursuit of young seals. In the 

 region of Davis Strait, the Eskimo diligently search 



