8 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AXD SPORT. 



not some one come to my assistance, and discovered 

 that the neck was as yet tied, thus effectually hinder- 

 ing all my desperate attempts to emerge into the open 

 air again. On escaping from my temporary confine- 

 ment, I had next to allow a curious-shaped bonnet or 

 hat of cloth, filled with eider-down, to be put upon 

 my head ; and after this it only wanted the huge 

 reindeer -skin gauntlets to completely transform me 

 into an aborigine of the country. As a reserve we 

 also were provided with a tippet or collar of bear- 

 skin, which, however, would only be of service in 

 case a storm or snow-fog should arise. JS"or did we 

 omit to take with us a good-sized flask of cognac, and 

 also a pair of blue spectacles, these latter for the 

 purpose of preserving our eyes from the glare of the 

 snow. As may be imagined, it is exceedingly diffi- 

 cult to move about freely in this voluminous cos- 

 tume ; and it was with a feeling of relief that we 

 heard the wapooses give the word to take our places in 

 our boat-shaped sleighs, called poolks. To a stranger 

 these poolks at first sight seem awkward conveyances. 

 They are constructed without runners, and have a 

 keel from 3 to 5 inches wide, and about 1^ inch high. 

 Made entirely of wood, pointed in front, and gradu- 

 ally becoming broader behind, they are very light 

 and easily drawn. For one who has never sat in 

 them before, it is almost impossible to preserve equi- 

 librium; and the arms have constant employment to 

 keep one from upsetting. M. Eegnard, who travelled 



