oc:obfr, 1S61.I The First Mush- Ox Jfiint. 87 



Hall's head and shoulders were between two of his friends, while his 

 feet and legs were mixed up with those of the other two. Early 

 in the morning, after smoking in bed, his companions gave him 

 the only breakfast which could be had — the marrow melted during 

 the night from a few reindeer-bones kept close by their flat stone 

 lamp. They then slaked their tliirst from a lakelet, cutting the ice 

 to the depth of 18 inches, and resumed their hunt. Following the 

 tracks which led in different directions, at one time southwardly toward 

 the "Great Sea" (Hudson's Bay), and at others for long distances 

 over hill and valley, at length they descried two animals on the top 

 of a hill at the opposite end of a lake. The dogs were immediately 

 loosed, but very soon some could not be prevented from turning aside 

 to the tracks of reindeer. After considerable delay, however, they 

 were again brought together by the cries of the Innuits, whose sharp, 

 experienced eyes readily discriminated between the tracks of the 

 reindeer and those of the musk-ox. The hoofs of both are as lar^re 

 as those of the common ox, and much the same in appearance; but 

 the little knobs — fetlocks (?) — behind the hoofs are the tell-tale be- 

 tween the tracks, those of the reindeer being more prominent and 

 longer The stand-droppings of the deer are like those of the sheep; 

 of the musk-cattle, "much like those from our cattle when dry- 

 fed." 



The party at this time had much difficulty in the ])ursuit, the 

 snow being too soft to support their weight. As much as possible of 

 the route was selected over the bare rocks, in passing over which they 

 came frequently to places where the musk bull or cow had pawed 

 through the snow and fed upon the grass and mosses of the soil; 

 unmistakable signs also appeared of their having lain down and rested 



