INDIAN DOGSKIN BOOTS. 99 



the sub-chief of this division of the tribe. We found him, to 

 speak plainly, in a state of beastly intoxication. He had come out 

 to sell his furs, and having received sufficient to supply his demands 

 for food he had used the surplus for drink, and that a little too 

 freely, judging from the effects wrought upon his mind and body. 

 He was lying down when we entered, but he managed to place 

 himself in a half sitting and half lying attitude and carry on a con- 

 versation with a great deal of "talk-um" on our part and consider- 

 able muttering on his. We saw how matters stood, and soon came 

 away and returned home ; not, however, until we had obtained 

 part of a young seal, that some one of the Indians had recently 

 killed, and which we broiled on a spider for our breakfast the next 

 morning. Let me say here, that the flesh of a young seal, when 

 well cooked, resembles cow's liver so nearly that one can hardly 

 tell the difference ; and I believe that if I could place a dish of 

 each before a stranger in Labrador who had tasted neither for a 

 long series of months he would be unable to tell accurately which 

 was which, so nearly do they resemble each other. We also ob- 

 tained some dried deer's meat, which is soaked and fried, or eaten 

 dry, and is very good. 



Monday the 25 th. I put on, to-day, my first pair of Indian, 

 dogskin boots. They are made like long legged moccasins, the 

 foot part being made of sealskin (the top only of dogskin), and 

 the sole being soft and pliable, and as sensitive as a glove upon the 

 hand. The foot is therefore free to move in most any direction, 

 and thus useful especially in climbing, where one is obliged to 

 grasp and cling by the clinch of the toes. It is quite trying how- 

 ever, to walk for the first few times on stony or pebbly ground, as 

 the little corners injure the feet most terribly until they become 

 hardened and accustomed to the peculiar feeling of having the 

 bottom of the boot soft and flexible instead of hard and stifl"; but 

 one soon gets used to the change and then enjoys the freedom of 

 feeling with the foot. 



Wednesday the 27th. I attempted a sort of exploration of the 

 country back of the hills, close behind the house, but found noth' 



