THE REIN-DEER. 135 



calf after their arrival on the coast. In September 

 they commence their return to the woods, where 

 they spend the winter, and find a sustenance from 

 the usnese, alectoriae, and the other tree lichens, or on 

 the cetrariae and cenomyces which clothe the rocks 

 and ground. In a wild state, this animal is no less 

 necessary for the support of the native tribes, than 

 it is to the Laplanders in Europe. " The Chepew- 

 yans, the Copper Indians, the Dogribs, and Hare 

 Indians of Great Bear Lake," Dr Richardson re- 

 marks, " would be totally unable to inhabit these 

 frozen grounds, were it not for the immense herds 

 of deer that exist there. Of the caribou horns they 

 form their fish-spears and hooks ; and, previous to 

 the introduction of European iron, ice-chisels and 

 various other utensils were also made of them. The 

 hide, dressed with the fur, is excellent for winter 

 clothing, and supplies the place of both blanket and 

 feather-bed to the inhabitant of the arctic wilds. It 

 also forms a soft and pliable leather, adapted for 

 mocassins and summer clothing ; or, when sixty or 

 seventy skins are sewed together, they make a tent 

 sufficient for the residence of a large family. The 

 shin-bone of the deer, split so as to present a sharp 

 edge, is the knife that is used to remove the hair in 

 the process of making the leather. The undressed 

 hide, after the hair is taken off, is cut into thongs of 

 various thickness, which are twisted into deer-snares, 

 bow-strings, net-lines, and in fact supply all the pur- 

 poses of rope. The finer thongs are used in the ma- 



