448 THE CENTRAL ESKIMO. 



some families here in August, 1846. They hunted the musk ox on 

 the western shore of the bay, and later in the season, upon the jjack 

 ice which filled the sea, they hunted the walrus (Rae I, p. 58). They 

 reported that the bay was very unfavorable for any kind of chase, 

 as it is usually filled with closely packed ice, which prevents the 

 visits of animals and endangers the boats of the natives (p. 49). In 

 July the salmon creeks of Akugdlit (Committee Bay) were visited 

 by these families, who extended their hunting gi-ound from Colville 

 Bay to the most northern parts of Melville Peninsula (p. 145). Ac- 

 cording to Hall a number of families live here at times. They were 

 in the habit of staying at Repulse Bay during the early part of the 

 summer and went to Akugdlit in the autumn to hunt the musk ox 

 and deer. In the winter they transferred their deposits of blubber 

 from Aivillik across the lakes to their settlement. Probably these 

 families returned to RejDulse Bay about the first of March, at which 

 timetheirdeix)sits were always exhausted (Hall II, p. 383). In some 

 seasons the natives journey much farther south, that is, to the coun- 

 try between Cape Fullerton and Wager River. Klutschak's report 

 iTpon this subject, wliirh is extracted from his observations dining 

 Schwatka's search foi-lhc Franklin records, will befiiiiiid Inl.-i-alily 

 correct (Deutsche Run 1 1 schau fiirGeograiAieund Statist ik. 111. iss], 

 p. 433). The report contains the following statement: 



In the spring of every year these Eskimo hve on the land floe of Hudson Bay, at 

 some distance from the point where the tides and wands carry the pack ice past the 

 shore. Here is the favorite feeding place of the walras, and tlie E.skuuo confine 

 tliemselTes to the pursuit of this animal. They settle near one of the numerous 

 islands situated near the shore. 



Later in the season they live in tents, and the hunting of seals 

 and walrus is continued as long as the presence of ice permits. The 

 greater part of the Aivillirmiut live near Depot Island (Pikiulaq). 

 Here, on Cape Fullerton, and near the northern entrance of Chester- 

 field Inlet, the natives deposit their stores for winter use. As soon 

 as the ice is gone they resort to the mainland, where deer, which 

 descend to the shore at this season, are hunted. When the snow 

 begins to cover the country they move inland, where they continue 

 the deer hiint. In October they settle near a deer pass or a lake 

 which is crossed by the herds migrating southward. In December 

 all the deer have left the country and the natives live upon the 

 stores deposited in the fall. Towards the beginning of the new year 

 part of them return to the sea and live upon the deposits of walrus 

 meat or 'disperse over the land floe, where seals are killed in their 

 lireathing holes. Another part take to the hills near Chesterfield 

 Inlet and Wager River, a favorite feeding ground for the musk ox. 

 They only return to the bay in March or April, to hunt seals until 

 the breaking up of the ice. If the supjilies of walrus meat are very 

 abundant the Eskimo gather in one large settlement. 



