DOMESTICATED REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 35 



iugs, as it were, in which they sighted the others quietly feeding, they 

 slowly and cautiously approached them. 



When all together, one of the herders could approach within 50 feet 

 or so without occasioning any alarm or uneasiness. If a part of the 

 herd got separated, as sometimes occurred through fright, after they 

 had dashed off a mile or so with the lieetness of the wind, and it looked 

 as if a chase of several miles would have to be made to bring them 

 back, if, indeed, they were ever found, they would almost as certainly 

 eircle around, and in a short time rejoin the rest. 



It is from this peculiarity that the herders are able to herd the deer 

 together. Although the four Siberians brought here with the reindeer 

 are all fleet. of foot, they could no more overtake a bnnch of frightened 

 reindeer than a stage horse could a lightning express train; but they 

 keep on running, and gradually get to the other side of them, when, 

 either by shouting or whistling, they get them headed back, when all 

 that is necessary is to quietly saunter along, and the reindeer will find 

 their way back to the herd. 



The force employed as herders consists of four Siberians and four 

 Alaskan Eskimos. Two of the latter belong to Cape Prince of Wales 

 and two to the village near the station. Up to the 21st of last Novem- 

 ber they were divided into two watches of twenty-four hours each, two 

 of the Siberians being placed with two of our natives. On that date 

 the watches were changed to three, so as to give them twelve hours 

 on and twenty-four hours off. This made their duties less irksome 

 1 1 1 i •< nigh the long nights of winter, and only placed each watch in the field 

 each third night. 



As winter approached, an abundance of reindeer clothing was pre- 

 pared for the herders, and when one was fully dressed, he looked double 

 his natural size, and during the severest weather he could stand for 

 hours, almost, in one position, facing the keen wind with the fur trim- 

 ming of his hood drawn over his face, and be as oblivous to the cold as 

 though the mercury were only at freezing point. 



Besides dressing our herders so they would not suffer from cold while 

 in the field, we wanted to impress the natives who saw them with the 

 fact that the employes at the station were well clothed, and that in 

 this respect at least the position of herder was a desirable one. The 

 same principle was carried out in the matter of their food. Their diet 

 consisted of good, nourishing food, and plenty of it, and one of our 

 herders looked, as he really was, well clothed and well fed. This fact 

 was by no means overlooked by the natives, as was evidenced by the 

 many applications for positions on the force. 



It may be proper to state here that, in the light of the past year's 

 experience, a force of eight or nine herders is amply sufficient for the 

 safe care of a herd of a thousand or more reindeer. Of course an 

 occasion might arise when an additional number would be necessary, 

 but careful observation of the habits of the reindeer certainly justifies 



