424 Provisions Abundant. [Jniy, iseg. 



late sledge journey was overwhelming ; now there is a considerable 

 sufficiency to take a party from this place to York Factor}^" These 

 stores were still, however, closely husbanded, and all reliance for 

 the supply of immediate wants was safely placed on new hunts for 

 the deer, the seal, and the walrus. Salmon fishing was also hope- 

 fully looked for. Nor were any of these expectations disappointed. 

 The natives from Iwillik, including also some from Pelly Bay and 

 Ig-loo-lik, repeatedly divided themselves into parties for hunting 

 and sealing, and brought in abundant returns. Even In-nook-poo- 

 zhee-jook surprised Hall b}' his quickness in learning the use of the 

 rifle ; and Nu-Jcer-zlioo one morning slipped quietly from his bed and 

 killed two large ook-gooks. Hall bartered with him for the meat of 

 one of the four which he had killed during the season, in noting 

 which he says, "the skins, blubber, blood, and meat of these animals 

 (especially the first) are very valuable ; lashing-lines, draught-lines, 

 seal and walrus lines, and the soles for kummins (boots) being made 

 from them." The total weight of one animal was 1,500 pounds. A 

 large number of salmon also were at difiierent times secured near 

 Beacon Hill, the fish measuring from 27 to 32 inches in length, and 

 weighing each as much as 13 pounds In the beginning of the season 

 they were caught by hook and line from the margin of lake-ice near 

 the shore, where a space had been melted away by the radiation of 

 heat from the adjacent land 



What gave him the utmost annoyance was the almost entire 

 demoralization which this very abundance brought upon the natives. 

 They stuffed and stuffed till all their provision was gone, and when 

 they could get no more they were ready to starve. Three-fourths of 

 their food was eaten for the mere gratification of eating; nothing but 



