156 CAMP FIRES IN THE YUKON 



out to Albert that since everybody obeys the chief, 

 and since the chief gets nothing for performing his 

 duties, he should make each family bring him a 

 certain amount of fur each year and by selling this 

 fur to make a " potlatch," he could give the party 

 without stripping himself. Albert is much inter- 

 ested in the plan and has several times asked more 

 about the details, and the way he nods his head as I 

 explain the fairness of the plan argues strongly for 

 a new tribal custom for " potlatches " in the Yukon 

 wilderness. 



September n. The snow had ceased falling, 

 though gray clouds continued to shroud the peaks 

 as we started down to Tepee Lake at five o'clock in 

 the morning in order to be close at hand in case any 

 moose came out to feed, our plan being in that event 

 to make a rapid stalk for the game while it was in 

 the water. On the way down the valley we saw 

 two cows browsing upon willows, but we passed them 

 and at seven o'clock took our stand on a hill-top 

 near the edge of the lake. It was very cold; in fact, 

 the low temperature must have been discouraging 

 for moose to feed in the lake, as we waited until 

 noon without seeing any sign of game. Then as it 

 began to snow we decided to go back to the brush 

 camp and had reached a point within three hundred 

 yards when we saw the saddled horses that had been 

 brought for us, and as George Wright, who had 

 brought the animals, was profitably engaged in cut- 



