434 THE CENTRAL ESKIMO. 



or Sarbaqdualuiig is visited for the purpose of shooting seals which 

 frequent the tide holes. This, however, is not a favorite way of 

 hvinting, as the ice near the tide holes is very rough and treacherous. 



In March and April young seals are caught on the shores of the nu- 

 merous islands between Tininiqdjuaq and Nuvujalung, and at the 

 same time the old settlements are left, as large water holes Ijegin to 

 appear. Qarussuit and Qingaseareang are the favorite places about 

 this time of the year. 



As soon as the young sealing is finished the hunt of the basking 

 seal is opened, which is very successful here. Nowhere else did I see 

 such large numbers of animals enjoying the warmth of the sun as in 

 Nettilling Fjord. luApril, when on the east shore scarcely any dared 

 to leave the water, hundreds might be seen here. By the first of May 

 all the natives have procured a suflicient number of sealskins for 

 their summer dress, the skins being then in the best condition, as the 

 first moulting has just occurred. This done, they eagerly prepare for 

 the journey to the lake. 



The natives start in the first week of May, and in two or three days 

 arrive at Kangia, whence they reach Isoa in one day's journey. Fol- 

 lowing the southern shore of Lake Nettilling they sleep the first night 

 on Tikeraqdjuausirn, the second on the island Manirigtung, near 

 Tikeraqdjuaq, and five days after leaving Qarussuit arrive at Tikeraq- 

 djung, where they settle for the summer. As numerous deer are found 

 in this region, they live without any care or trouble. Very soon after 

 their arrival the birds return. While moulting great quantities of 

 these are caught. The geese are so abundant here that they are fed 

 to the dogs. Many deer are caught while passing the deep river 

 which runs from Lake Amaqdjuaq to Lake Nettilling. Frequently 

 they visit the southern plains, which are filled with lakes and lake- 

 lets. Sometimes they go as far as Amaqdjuaq, which, as the older 

 natives report, was formerly a summer settlement. 



In the river whose outlet is near Padli salmon are caught in abun- 

 dance. In this district the Talirpiugmiut stay until the eastern part 

 of the lake is frozen over. 



In the shelter of the islands the floe is more quickly formed than 

 in the open water of the western part, and in November the natives 

 return by sledges to Isoa. 



As they take with them heavy loads of deerskins they make very 

 slow progress and generally arrive at their place of destination after 

 six days of traveling. Sometimes they make a short trip to Isoa in 

 March or April to hunt deer or to look for the things which were left 

 behind in Kangia and Isoa at the time of their last departure. 



Besides the Talirpiugmiut quite a number of Cumberland Soimd 

 natives visit the lake by means of boats. They cross the sound after 

 the breaking tip of the ice and go to Nettilling, carrying the boats 

 over the portages between Kangia and Isoa. As the Talirpiugmiut 



