DOMESTICATED REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 63 



stowed away under cover, and that deer may be kept up and fed just 

 as domestic stock are cared for. This inclosure for the deer ought not 

 to be a tight one, for they do not require to be kept in a warm place, 

 but there seems to be no reason why deer could not be treated in this 

 way, and be ready for immediate use, instead of putting them out with 

 the herd and lassoed Avhenever they are wanted. This experiment will 

 doubtless be tried next season at the station, unless we are prevented, 

 from press of work, from having moss gathered in the summer. 



I do not think moss would rot or ever get moldy if stacked up. The 

 twelve sacks gathered last season were brought in when wet and lay 

 in sacks until used, and it seemed as fresh as when gathered. It lay 

 piled up in the frame building and froze during the first cold weather. 

 Before it was fed each sack was thawed out. I think, if anything, 

 freezing would improve it rather than otherwise. 



Perhaps it is just as well at this time to refer to the fondness of rein- 

 deer for urine. The herders, with each watch, carried a little vessel 

 with them, made of seal skin. It was a very light affair and would 

 hold about a pint, being large enough at the top to allow a deer to get 

 its head far enough in to lap the bottom. The herders made a practice 

 to urinate in this vessel, and when held toward the deer a half dozen 

 would start for it and drink it greedily. Frequently they would make 

 a motion as if urinating in it and they would start toward the herder 

 at once. By this means they were often enabled to catch a deer with- 

 out the trouble of lassoing him, and there were a number in the herd 

 who could be caught in this way at any time. Those who would not 

 come up to the vessel to drink would quickly start for the spot where 

 it was spilled and eat the snow saturated with it eagerly. They would 

 eat snow where dogs had urinated, but not with so much relish. 



In my experiments in trying to get the deer to eat salt but indiffer- 

 ent success was met with. They did not seem to take to it well, when 

 mixed with their meal, and I discontinued it. 



For several days immediately preceding Christmas, I took occasion to 

 tell the scholars how it was observed by the whites, and explained such 

 features about the day as my limited knowledge of the language would 

 admit of; so that at the close of school the day before they pretty well 

 knew why it was observed. 



All through the winter the almost starving condition of the natives 

 had been so impressed upon us that nothing but the knowledge that 

 our supply of food was very limited prevented us from distributing 

 regular rations to them. But I will make furthei reference to this mat- 

 ter in another place in my report. 



I told the children about Santa Clans, and for them to tie their fur 

 stockings up near their beds, as he was coining to visit them for the 

 first time, and would remember every child. 



I made up a lot of little bags out of empty iioui sacks, and into each 

 one put eight cubes of white sugar, about a dozen pieces of dried apples, 



