A Musk -Ox Hunt. 



3i7 



Again, on the 13th, we came upon the fresh trail of a large herd 

 of these cattle, and I had the hardest work imaginable persuading 

 these natives to pass on without following it up. The Eskimos have 

 far more excitability in the presence of game or its sign than any 

 other race of people I have encountered, not even excepting the 

 various Indian tribes of our great western plains. 



Before we had fairly gone into camp, on the 2 2d, — and by going 

 into camp on an arctic sledge journey is meant the building of pecul- 

 iarity constructed domes of snow, or snow-houses, the unharnessing 

 of the dogs, et cetera, — a most furious gale of wind arose, which 

 raged so terribly for five days that even the natives found it prudent 

 not to stay out of the snow-huts for any considerable time ; and this 

 enforced idleness reduced our commissary to an alarming minimum. 

 We managed, however, to get away by the 28th, the storm even then 

 only slightly abating ; and, after traveling nineteen miles in a north- 

 north-west direction, we went into camp, the weather somewhat 

 better, but the larder in a reduced condition. Shortly after camping, 

 Ik-quee-sik, my Netschilluk Eskimo guide, who had absented him- 

 self while the igloos, or snow-houses, were being built, came running 

 excitedly into the village from a distant high hill, the perspiration in 

 huge drops streaming down his brown and dirty face, and with my 

 army signal telescope, full drawn, under one arm. While gasping 

 for breath, he reported that he had seen a herd of eight or ten musk- 

 oxen about four or five miles to the northward, slowly grazing along 

 to the west, and evidently unaware of danger. Everything was put 

 aside, and every Eskimo, man, woman and child, was soon at the top 

 of a high hill near by, and a dozen dirty and eager natives were 

 clamoring to look through the telescope. We were not long in coming 

 to the decision that the next day should be devoted to securing as 

 many as possible of the long-haired monsters, Ik-quee-sik's discovery 

 having been made too late to risk an attack so near night-fall. 



Our dogs, that had been loosened from their harnesses, were now 

 secured to the overturned sledges and to other heavy materials, to 

 prevent their scampering after the game should they scent them in 

 the night, as their ravenous appetites would undoubtedly prompt 

 them to do; while around each animal's nose was closely wound a 

 muzzle of seal or walrus line thongs, to prevent the usual concert of 

 prolonged howls. 



