254 ON SNOW-SHOES TO THE BARREN GROUNDS 



wood with a big knife, which is at once the musk-ox 

 hunting-knife and the Barren Ground axe combined. A 

 shorter pole is lashed over the fire from side to side of the 

 tepee on to the lodge-poles, and from this, by a piece of 

 babiche with a forked stick tied to its end, are hung the 



kettles. 



To give an idea of the size of the fire, I may add that 

 by the time the snow has been melted and the water has 

 come to a boil the fire has burned itself out. 

 While it blazes and the tea is making, every 

 one squats around, gazing wistfully at the 

 flame and persuading himself he is being 

 warmed ; but as an actual fact no heat from 

 the fire can be felt by the bared hand two feet 

 away. 



Tea made and drunk, you roll yourself in 

 your robes, lying on your side, with your feet 

 towards where the fire was and head against 

 your sledge. With your knees into some Ind- 

 ian's back, and some Indian's knees into your 

 back, and your snow-shoes under your head, 

 away from the dogs, that would eat the lacing 

 and strings, you compose yourself for sleep ; 

 but you do not get it at least, not for a time. 

 So soon as everybody has rolled up for the 

 night, the dogs, that have been fighting just 

 without the lodge, and kept away only by the 

 whips of the Indians sitting nearest the opening, pour in 

 and continue their fights over the prostrate forms of the 

 cold-storage tramps. Fifteen minutes of alternate fight- 

 ing and searching for something to eat, and the dogs be- 

 come comparatively settled for the night around and on 

 top of the alleged sleepers. 



It is rather comforting than otherwise to have a doe 



MUSK-OX 



IIUNTING- 



KMFE AND 



15ARREN 



GROUND 



AXE 



