BLIND LEADING THE BLIND 71 



all. We held our way, however, and the lake I had sighted 

 proved to be Big White Fish, where I traded some tobacco 

 for fish for the dogs, but could get none to eke out the lit- 

 tle bacon now left us. 



Here I had my first view of the manner in which these 

 fish are hung upon stagings first to dry, subsequently to 



DRYING FISH THE STAPLE FOOD OF MAN AND DOG 



freeze, and ever to be beyond the reach of the always half- 

 starved dogs. There are other stagings, combining larder 

 and storehouse for the Indian, and more necessary than 

 his lodge, where he puts his meat, fresh pelts, snow-shoes, 

 and sledges. Snow-shoes and sledges do not sound pala- 

 table, but the caribou-skin lacings of the former and moose 

 wrapper and lines of the latter make quite a succulent 

 dish, as meals go in this land of feast or famine. Every 

 Indian cabin or lodge has its staging, and all things eata- 

 ble are hung upon it for safety. And it is here the dogs 

 do congregate to voice their hunger in mournful howling, 



