"OMINGMONG!" THE MUSK-OX! 303 



it was decided that this might be done if the heads were 

 cut from the skins close to the body, and the heads 

 abandoned ; and to my intense gratification, though I 

 regretted the loss of the fine heads, this was done. 

 The Eskimos, of course, took good care that none 

 of the flesh was wasted. They were extremely 

 economical in this respect, especially so on this trip, 

 as they were out for food for the following winter, 

 as well as for sport. 



The descent to the valley was even more difficult 

 than the ascent had been. I found it a tedious and 

 dangerous undertaking, and though I finally accom- 

 plished it without accident, I was much longer about 

 it than the seemingly reckless Eskimos. 



Here to my disappointment I found that nearly 

 all the skins of the first animals killed were ruined. 

 In rolling down the mountain-side large patches of 

 hair had been torn out on sharp boulders, and the dogs 

 had also wrought considerable destruction. How- 

 ever, I succeeded in saving one fairly good specimen 

 complete, and with the other skins secured, felt well 

 paid for my hunt. 



Now came the reaction. Early in the chase I had 

 found my kuletar an encumbrance and discarded it 

 upon the hill-side. In the descent I had forgotten 

 to recover it. Though the day was very cold the 

 exertion and excitement threw me into a dripping 

 perspiration. A keen north wind was blowing, and I 

 soon began to shiver. To add to my discomfort, I 

 had in the mountain-climbing severely bruised the 

 soles of my feet on the rocks, and now I realized that 



