134 CANADIAN ENVIRONMENT OF THE OUANANICHE 



what clearer evidence of the fact to them, who were 

 ignorant of the sacrilegious plundering of their dead 

 by the predatory JSTascapees, than the removal of 

 these objects from where they had been faithfully 

 left by loving hands ? Very often, but always un- 

 successfully, the employes of the Hudson Bay Com- 

 pany have endeavored to dissuade the bereaved rela- 

 tives of deceased Eskimos from depriving the living 

 of those implements of the chase that they could so 

 ill spare, in order to leave them by the remains of 

 their dead. Any deviation from the custom would 

 only be regarded by them, and by all their acquaint- 

 ances, as manifesting an unfilial disregard for the fut- 

 ure comfort and happiness of the departed. As a 

 matter of fact, even his lesser creature comforts are 

 not forgotten by the surviving members of his family, 

 who never fail at their final leave-taking of him to 

 place in his possession inside of the coffin, if there 

 happen to be one, a sufficiency of pipes and tobacco 

 to last him for at least several stages of his long jour- 

 ney. And when they return from their next great 

 hunt they repair to the resting-place of his body and 

 enjoy a rare feast, leaving a choice portion of deer 

 flesh behind them for the use of the deceased in case 

 of emergency such, for instance, as rarity of game or 

 failure of the chase in his present hunting-grounds. 

 If it still remains where it was left when they again 

 visit the scene, it is evident that it was not required ; 

 but occasionally it goes the way of the kayak and the 

 gun. 



Despite their peculiar beliefs and superstitions, the 

 Eskimos do not share all those of the Nascapee Ind- 



