ON THE LOWER TELZOA. 109 



While traversing the shores of this body of water, 

 which is about twenty miles in length, and which has 

 been christened Wharton Lake, a number of magnificent 

 specimens of reindeer in prime condition were seen, and 

 several of them shot at ranges of from two to four 

 hundred yards. By this time the 22nd of August 

 the skins as well as the carcases of the deer were at 

 their best, and the centres of several of the hides were 

 saved and dried for use as sleeping mats, while all of 

 the fine fat meat secured was applied to the replenishing 

 of our severely taxed larder. 



After describing nearly the entire circumference of 

 this lake, the outlet, much obscured by a labyrinth of 

 islands, was discovered on the east side, close to a con- 

 spicuous hill of white quartzite, 230 feet in height. 



At the foot of this hill an Eskimo cache, consisting of a 

 " kometic " (sled), snow-shovels, musk-ox horns, etc., was 

 discovered, and here on the night of the 22nd camp was 

 pitched. As no moss or other description of fuel could 

 be found in the vicinity, some of the men considered 

 they had " struck a bonanza " in finding the "kometic," 

 and carried it to camp, intending to utilize it for boiling 

 the kettle. A slat or two had already been knocked ofF 

 when, happily, I arrived on the scene just in time to 

 prevent its destruction and preserve our good name 

 with the natives. 



To the Eskimo who owned the sled it was an invaluble 

 possession, and for us to have destroyed it for one " mess 

 of pottage " would have been a flagrant shame. It was 

 therefore repaired, and carried back to where it had been 



