TIIENEB.] 



OUTDOOR LIFE. 203 



flies, and horseflies are marked by dates anticipated witli considerable 

 apprehension of annoyance. 



In order to sketch the annual routine of life, I vdll begin with the 

 breaking up of the ice in spring. The Koksoak river breaks its ice 

 about the last of May. This period, however, may vary as much as 

 ten days earlier and twenty days later than the date specified. The 

 ice in Ungava bay, into which that river flows, must be Iree from the 

 greater portion of the shore ice before the river ice can push its way 

 out to sea. The winds alone influence the bay ice, and the character 

 of the weather toward the head waters of the river determines its time 

 of breaking. 



The Eskimo lias naturally a keen perception of the signs in the sky 

 and is often able to predict with certainty the effects of the preceding 

 weather. When the season has sufiiciently advanced all the belong- 

 ings of each family are put together and transported down the river on 

 sleds to where the ice has not yet gone from the mouth of the river. 

 It is very seldom that the river ice extends down so far. To the edge 

 of the ice the tent and dogs, with the umiak, kaiak, and other personal 

 property, are taken and then stored on shore until the outside ice is 

 free. 



The men wander along the beach or inland hunting for reindeer, 

 ptarmigan, hai'es, and other land game. The edge of the water is 

 searched for waterfowl of various kinds which appear earliest. Some 

 venturesome seals appear. In the course of a few days the ice in the 

 river breaks up and the shore ice of the bay is free; and if there is a 

 favorable wind it soon permits the undak to be put into the water, 

 where, by easy stages, depending on the weather, the quantity of float- 

 ing ice, and the food supply, the hunters creep alongshore to the object- 

 ive point, be it either east or west of the Koksoak. Sometimes the party 

 divide, some going in one direction and others in another. 



The men seek tor seals, hunting in the kaiak, the women and chil- 

 dren searching the islets and coves for anything edible. As soon as 

 the season arrives for the various gulls, eiders, and other sea birds to 

 nest the women and children are in high glee. Every spot is carefully 

 examined, and every accessible nest of a bird is robbed of its contents. 

 By the 25th of June the people have exhausted the supply of eggs from 

 the last situations visited and now think of returning, as the birds have 

 again deposited eggs and the seals are becoming scarcer. 



The Eskimo arrange to assist the company to drive white whales 

 when the season arrives. This is as soon as they appear in the river at 

 a sufficient distance up to warrant that the measures pursued will not 

 drive them out of the fresh water, for if they left they would not soon 

 return. The date usually fixed upon is about the 12th of July. The 

 natives are .summoned, and a large sailboat or the small steam launch 

 is sent along the coast to the place where the people were exi^ected 

 to arrive the 5th of the mouth. The natives are brought to the 



