210 No Bites by the Salmon. ijrannnry, isee. 



moon a few days past full, and the temperature, 46° below zero. They 

 expected to remain out through the following night, yet took no addi- 

 tions to their winter traveling- dress. A snow-knife was carried to cut 

 out their igJoo. The bracing air incited the dogs to their full speed, 

 so that after crossing the sea-ice and ascending a small ravine on the 

 surface of a rivulet leading up from a fiord of the bay, by sunrise they 

 were twelve miles from the igloos and near the deposit. The land in 

 the neighborhood was extremely low; that lying far to the north and 

 east was high — called King-naw by Nu-Jcer-zJwo. A fresh breeze added 

 new stimulus to a work of profuse perspiration despite the intensity 

 of the cold; but before dark they had returned home, dragging with 

 them on their sled four heavy packages of venison-saddles sewed up 

 in deer-skins. It had been necessary to re-ice the runners of the sled 

 with moss. Their breakfast of raw frozen meat had been eaten under 

 the protection of the snow-pillars supporting two hj-aks. 



No subsistence but the deer-meat was found during this season, 

 excepting occasionally a few salmon, or as many as a dozen partridges. 

 Hall attempted to catch salmon in a lake three miles east of Beacon 

 Hill, where he baited many hooks in holes through the fourteen-inch 

 ice Dr. Rae, in 1 853-54, had found this lake well filled, but Hall did 

 not get a bite. The story of the natives was that no fish had been 

 caught in this lake since Rae lost his net in it. Presents were more 

 than once brought in of salmon from 30 to 36 inches in length, which 

 were either eaten raw or parboiled in fresh water, making, when fat, 

 a rich soup. 



The provisions which had been brought to Fort Hope were spar- 

 ingly used. The main dependence was upon venison, which was 

 usually taken raw, with tood-noo or seal-blubl)er (often old and rancid) 



