MAMMALS AND BHIDS OF PRINCE OF WALES SOUND. 115 



and a lot of greasy felt gun wads, which were seen the next day care- 

 fully placed beside a stone undigested. It may be added, en passant, 

 these gun wads were subsequently used by an Eskimo for his gun. 

 As might be supposed the dogs do not grow very fat, nevertheless 

 they are often slaughtered for food during hard times, and their skins 

 are made into clothing. 



In harness the Eskimo dog appears as a different animal, it is then 

 fed occasionally upon the skin of the walrus and other refuse, but 

 woe betide the dog that refuses to pay for this food by pulling too 

 lightly upon the load that is given it. Thrashing, is then often far 

 too good for it, it must pay with a part of its body, and cai'elessly 

 going up to it the quiet, though enraged, Eskimo will take his kiiife 

 and cut a small piece off its tail or ear and will as coolly return to 

 the sleigh with the call " wlioots," which means " get on." 



Having a large Newfoundland dog with me, which was brought 

 up on the ship from the Labrador coast, it was very interesting to 

 watch its treatment of and by its Eskimo neighbours. From first to 

 last the males wei-e deadly enemies, my Newfoundlander disdaining 

 to have anything to do with them, but with the females he was a 

 particular favourite, thereby causing some most terrible rows in the 

 camp. 



Reindeer ( Rangifer Taraiidus (Limn, Baird), (Tooh-too, Eshimo). 



The reindeer is only a summer visitor to the coast, arriving in the 

 early part of April and leaving again for the interior in November. 



The horns of those taken about April 10th were soft and a great 

 many were covei-ed with velvet. At this time of the year a great 

 stir is noticed among the Eskimo, and in a few days all leave for the 

 hunting-grounds a few miles inland where the deer are most plenti- 

 ful, returning to the shore again about six weeks later. 



The reindeer is undoubtedly the most useful animal to the Eskimo 

 that is found in these regions ; its hide is used for clothing and 

 bedding, its horns for spear and arrow heads, and the lining of its 

 belly for sewing thread, while the fat, which is usually melted down 

 is one of the greatest luxuries the Eskimo possesses. 



In June the young are dropped, and during this month and July 

 the deer is not molested as the Eskimo is then too busily engaged in 

 seal hunting. In August the hunt again commences, and at this 

 time the Eskimo seciires all the skins he can for winter use ; iinfor- 



