INTRODCrCTION OF DOMESTIC KEINDKKK INTO ALASKA. (')7 



doer wore taken out of the lierd, one for Sara and one for Nallogoroak, 

 to relieve two others which stood the trip less well. To the ])roj)a- 

 rations of to-day was added the cuttino; and loading of as much dry 

 wood as we could possi])ly take along, because after our last night's 

 camp is left, there %vill be no chance of getting any wood, probably of 

 any description. l)efore we get near Bethel. 



All was ready and the drive began at 8.30 a. m. As we were now 

 across the Yukon and all its sloughs and brush, the vast tundra lay 

 open before us. A due southerly course was taken by the compasss 

 and we have traveled all day according to it. It happened that a 

 series of small lakes or ponds lay exactly in our way. These lakes — 

 some of which were as much as 2 miles in length — are very nice to 

 travel on, and between them is the best of feeding groimd for the 

 deer. It is certainly" well to have the feed, but at times it gives us 

 much trouble. The deer want to feed all the time, and as soon as we 

 reach such a place of moss they at once set off and spread out, so that 

 it becomes very hard to gather them again, for the next pond. Natu- 

 rally such trouble delays us, but still we are fortunate to have placed 

 about 25 miles behind us to-day. Camp was made at 5 p. m., when 

 we had traveled an hour and a half by moonlight. The deer began to 

 be hungry, and Michael's voice as w^ell as ni}' own gave out entirely, 

 so we were forced to camp before we had otherwise intended. No 

 wood of any description is to be found for miles and miles, and the 

 tundra is so level that hardly a knoll is seen anywhere. Sara and 

 Spein arrived two hours later and made camp by our side, and all are 

 ready to retire at the hour of 9. 



Sunday, Novemher 29. — The day's march began at 7.45 a. m. That 

 means, of course, we who escort the herd; the others, as usual, did 

 not get ready at such an early hour. Having made about 20 miles, we 

 made camp at 4 p. m., and are comfortably^ situated to-night. But 

 at tliis hour — 7 o'clock — the rest of our crowd has not yet come. I said 

 we were comfortably situated. By comfort here is simply meant a 

 few small willow bushes, in which the tent could be securely tied. 

 Wood for fuel has all, like last night, to be supplied from what we 

 have on the sleds; consequently we need to bo ver}" careful in case it 

 should happen to be bad weather and a lay over be necessitated. 

 The day has been cloud}' and quite a strong northerh wind has been 

 blowing all da}^. All mountains have now sunk completely below our 

 horizon; so the compass is now our only guide when the sun is hid. 



Just after our noon lunch of crackers and tea, I ha])pened to slip on 

 a niggerhead and unfortunately sprained my right ankle, and was thus 

 disabled to run and chase the herd, but had to sit on the sled and bark 

 as much as the organs of voice would allow. The ])ain is yet very 

 acute and it is certainly well if I can sit and juni]) and jar on the sled 



