242 HUNTING WITH THE ESKIMOS 



nenier cut up a whole hind-quarter of deer, placing 

 the pieces carefully at one side and eating none. 

 This was most unusual, and I asked what they were 

 to do with it. Tears welled up in Anahway's eyes 

 as she explained to me that her mother was buried 

 near the top of one of the low mountains near by 

 and this meat she was to leave at the grave. 



The Eskimos do not bury their dead in the ground. 

 The bodies are enclosed in skins, carried to some high 

 eminence and covered thickly with boulders as a pro- 

 tection against wild beasts. It is a custom among 

 them to carry food to deceased loved ones several 

 times a year and the choicest morsels are selected. 



The Eskimos were to leave Annootok the morning 

 after the incident referred to above, and some time 

 before daylight Eiseeyou came down to the shack 

 to call me. Donning warm clothing I joined them 

 at once at the igloos, where I found Anahway ready 

 for her pilgrimage to the grave. She invited me to 

 join her, and together we climbed the mountain. 

 Snow was deep, the walking very hard, and over a 

 part of the distance we were on hands and knees, 

 pulling ourselves out of deep snow-drifts. 



Dawn was just showing dimly in the east when 

 the burial place was reached. Anahway placed me 

 at the foot of the grave, where she instructed me to 

 stand. Then she took off her mittens, pulled back 

 her hood, baring her head, and assuming a half kneel- 

 ing position at the head of the grave began talking 

 to her mother, relating to her all the recent happen- 

 ings, and telling her of the success of their immediate 



