274 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



" There is one thing about the moose that is always 

 the same," said Brown, "and that is that there is no 

 part of him that is lost when an Indian gets hold of 

 him." 



"Moose nickoshin," replied Kakagens. "Meat 

 good, nose good, skin good, bone good, all heap good." 



Dyche had already discovered that this assertion 

 was correct, for none of the animals which had been 

 killed had been wasted. The head is prized as an 

 especial delicacy. The muffle is tender and even 

 more sweet and delicate than a beaver's tail. Jerked 

 moose-meat is much prized by the Indian and is simi- 

 lar to jerked buffalo-meat, but is not so tough. The 

 hides make strong buckskins, from which the Indians 

 make moccasins. A large hide will make from twelve 

 to fifteen pair of moccasins, which are sold at a dollar 

 and a half a pair. Hides of foetal moose are much 

 sought after by the Indians, who use them for mak- 

 ing tobacco-pouches or tea-bags. 



Moose-stories appeared to be the only subject that 

 any of the party could do justice to, and every night 

 the circle around the fire in the cabin was regaled 

 with something fresh about the animal. In reply to 

 a remark about " yarding, " which is frequently 

 described by Eastern writers, the Indians said that 

 they had never seen more than seven or eight to- 

 gether in a band. As to the stories of hundreds of 

 them assembled in a "yard," which is said to happen 

 in Maine, the Indians shook their heads most ener- 

 getically and said they had never seen it. 



The season was now far advanced, December being 

 half gone. The time for big snows had come, and 



