Hunting Musk-Ox with the Dog Ribs 



from the mouth of the Churchill River 

 to the mouth of the Mackenzie. The 

 musk-ox are now hunted by the Eskimo 

 from Hudson's Bay and the shores of 

 Coronation Gulf, and by the Indians from 

 Fort Good Hope to the eastern end of 

 the Great Slave Lake. They were found 

 ten years ago at the edge of the timber ; 

 but they have been hunted during the last 

 few years for their robes, until they have 

 been driven back from one to two hun- 

 dred miles beyond the limit of forest 

 growth. I expected to engage Indians to 

 accompany me into the Barren Ground 

 during the months of October and No- 

 vember. I secured the services of a young 

 Indian at the fort, who I soon found 

 would not be of any use as " either man 

 or boy ; " and, as there were no others 

 available as interpreters, I was of neces- 

 sity interpreter, official head, dog-driver, 

 hunter, artist, naturalist, and cook of the 

 expedition, though the duties of the last 

 functionary never became very onerous. 



Difficulties soon arose to prevent the 

 accomplishment of my plans. The In- 

 dians decided to abandon the fall hunt 

 altogether; as the days are short, and severe 

 storms prevail at that season, making the 

 trip into the Barren Ground extremely 

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