THE CARIBOO. 115 



"You have no cariboo down in the States," said 

 Gaultier. 



"I hain't corned across 'em," replied the trapper; 

 " they are raal handsome beasts." 



" Yes," said Pierre ; " there are few handsomer animals 

 than the cariboo. You know," he continued, "there 

 are two varieties the woodland and the Barren Ground 

 cariboo. The former is considerably larger than the 

 latter. Few animals have such an extensive range. 

 It is found in Iceland, and along the northern parts 

 of the continents of Europe, Asia, and America. 

 It is also met with in Newfoundland and in Green- 

 land. In Europe it is known as the reindeer. It 

 has been stated that the cariboo frequenting the sterile 

 regions of the Barren Grounds differs in some re- 

 spects from the better-known kind, and constitutes a 

 separate variety. Of this, however, no one seems to 

 be absolutely certain. Indeed, I have often observed 

 how little reliance is to be placed on the statements of 

 Indians and hunters on such subjects. These content 

 themselves with killing the game, and unless there is 

 some striking peculiarity observable in the animal, they 

 pay no more attention to the matter." 



"Jest so," remarked Jake; "that's dreadful true, 

 I reckin. I wur once engaged as guide an' hunter 

 to one o' them bug-gatherers from the towns as goes 

 about collectin' all kinds o' rubbish, an' fills thur pockets 

 wi' grassjumpers an' straddlebugs. Wai, we wur main 

 hungry one day, hevin' nothin' to chaw 'ceptin' the 



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