72 INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 



said, there was no ice as jet. It had taken them seven days to reach 

 the station, although they had very Hght loads. I am very glad 

 that we did not make an attempt to go there, because it would onl}^ 

 have resulted in the wearing out of the few sled deer we now have 

 and a delay so great that I most certainly would come too late to 

 Nome. As Nallogoroak and Bals had not returned at 2.30 ]). m., I 

 sent some boys with a letter to B. to remind him that it was this A^ery 

 day that we intended to start for home. The boys had not been gone 

 long, however, before Nallogoroak came with thi-ee deer. Of coiu'se 

 it was too late then to go anywhere to-day, so he w^as directed out 

 on the tundra to where Bals was waiting with the other four deer, 

 and there to stake them all and return with B. to sleep at the mission 

 over night. The reason for the delay was said to be that the herd 

 had gone so far away that it took the boys nearl}^ all day to find it. 

 Late this evening some travelers came to the village from up Kusko- 

 kwim River, and one of them brought the letter which I wrote to 

 Mr. Stecker from Andreafski last fall, in which he was informed as 

 to the plans of moving the herd. The weather has been very misty 

 to-day, especially in the afternoon. 



Tuesday, Decemher 8. — Five o'clock I was up to see what kind of 

 weather it was and to call my men to get the deer. But thej^, Mr. 

 Bals and Nallogoroak, had already gone after them. The morning 

 was calm, bright, and beautiful, promising a nice day. In spite of 

 their early start, Bals and Nallogoroak did not return until 8.30 a. m. 

 At 9 o'clock all was ready — two sleds loaded with wood, one with 

 provision, and one with clothing, then one sled remained for each 

 of us to ride on during the return. Farewell was taken and off we 

 went quite speedily, taking a northwesterly course toward home. 

 The whole day was calm and beautiful, but toward evening it began 

 to grow cloudy. Camp was made about 22 miles away from Bethel, 

 a little beyond a village by name Nesboangloakmut. We are very 

 comfortably situated in the shelter of a willow bush, and have enjoyed 

 our supper greatly because we had no lunch to-day on account of the 

 late start. The wind begins to blow furiouslj^ now, late in the 

 evening, and everything seems to indicate bad weather. 



Wednesday, Decemher 9. — Last night was ver}^ stormy. We could 

 not keep the tent standing ver}^ well, but had to get up and raise it 

 twice during the night. At 3 o'clock the wind died out a little, 

 and before 6 a. m. we were ready to start the da^^'s march. Just 

 as the deer were harnessed up and we held the reins ready to go, the 

 wind came fearfully strofig and the snow with it. In such weather 

 we could not think of traveling, so we made an attempt to put up 

 the tent again. That undertaking was quite difficult, but fuially 

 we succeeded in getting shelter, and then we remained until 10 o'clock, 

 when we started off again. The wind had then gone down a trifle, 



