INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDEEK INTO .\LASKA. 71 



farther away, wo had all to return without seeing it. The da}' has 

 been very eloudy and dark, with a northeasterly wind blowing (|uitc 

 hard. A little snow fell also in the forenoon. Mr. Steeker and I have 

 been talking about making a trip up to the mission herd, which is nearly 

 100 miles away, but for various reasons it does not seem possible to 

 go there. The river is so very swift that as yet it has not frozen, 

 sa3^s Mr. Steeker, and the mountains are said to be almost impass- 

 able. But should I go there I w^ould run a great risk of not being 

 able to return to Unalakleet in time to meet the apjiointments in 

 regard to Mary's case with Lindseth. And if I do not return in time, 

 Mary would not bo able to do anything in the matter. So all tilings 

 considered, it is bettor that this herd which we brought be loft in 

 Mr. Stecker's charge right here, and he take it up to the mission herd 

 as soon as the conditions be favorable. As far as we are able to ascer- 

 tain just now, not a single deer was lost on that long and trouble- 

 some journey, and no accident happened except when the sick deer 

 fell and hurt itself. 



Saturday, December 5. — This day has reached its end in much the 

 same way as yesterday. The snow has fallen tliickly all day, and 

 the wind has kept up its speed pretty well. The barometer has 

 nothing good to prophesy. We have now decided to leave next 

 Monday morning for Unalakleet. 



Sunday, December 6. — This has been a more than usually pleasant 

 day. We gathered in the little chapel twice during the day, and were 

 greatly blessed by reading the old, but ever new word of Life. ^Ul the 

 Lapps, except Mrs. Sara, came to church, and w^ere made acf[uainted 

 with the missionaries. They all stayed for dinner and returned to 

 the herd again before dark. Preparations were made for our start 

 toward home in the morning. After church this evening a man 

 came down from the neighborhood of the Bethel reindeer herd and 

 told us that their herders, with nine deer, were just commg down 

 to-morrow. So after all I might get a chance to see some of the 

 herders before our return. The weather has boon a little better 

 to-day. 



Monday, December 7. — Somehow the night was almost sleepless. 

 At 5 o'clock I was uj) looking and waiting for Nallogoroak and Bals, 

 W'ho w^ere to come from the herd with our deer. Iloiu' after hour 

 passed and no one came. Dinner was partaken of early so as to 

 be in readiness to travel as soon as the Bethel hordeis and my own 

 men came. Two o'clock in the afternoon, Betlu^l herders came 

 with nine deer. Their deer, were in a most excellent condition. 

 The herders were v(My nice and intelligent young men. They gave 

 also a favorable report about the present condition of the herd, 

 but several deer had died during the summer and early autumn. 

 Their trip down had been very difficult because, as Mr. Steeker had 



