CaifYip Life amid Arctic Snoius. 195 



as practiced by the Indians and hunters along the river is as 

 follows : A well-sheltered spot is selected in a clump of spruce, 

 with abundance of dry wood in the immediate vicinity. After 

 unhitching the dogs, which is the first proceeding, the snow- 

 shoes are removed and used as shovels to clear away a space 

 twenty feet square and from two and a half to five feet in depth. 

 An abundance of green boughs are then scattered evenly over 

 the floor, the sides braced by brush, and a back rest is secured by 

 laying several sticks lengthwise to a height sufficient to serve 

 as a wind break. A quantity of dry timber is then heaped up 

 on the opposite side and fired. Skins are spread over the spruce 

 brush on the floor, parkas, blankets, harness, etc, are hung over the 

 sides, and the camp is finished. The dogs are fed first, after 

 the meat carried for the purpose has been thawed out before the 

 fire. During this interval the men, in our case at least, stay the 

 pangs of hunger by pieces of pemmican, succulent as chip :?, fol- 

 lowed by the inevitable pipe. A pot full of dried meat is then 

 boiled and a large kettle of strong tea brewed ; pilot bread or flap- 

 jacks, if procurable, complete the 1:»ill of fare. We had pro- 

 visions for twelve days, but expected to be away for eighteen, 

 so it behooved us to watch the larder with a jealous eye. 



Early in the morning, next day, the party followed the wind- 

 ings of Sunaghun river, and ascended the long slope leading to 

 Boundary rock, so named from its proximity to the international 

 boundary. It was decided to ascend the rock, which projects 

 about 100 feet above the general, surface. From this elevated 

 point, 2,700 feet above the sea and 1,900 feet above camp Co- 

 lonna, an excellent view was obtained of the surrounding 

 country. To the eastward the windings of the Porcupine could 

 be traced for miles ; to the westward a short but bold range of 

 mountains, seemingly volcanic, cut off" the view. A bank of fog 

 overhung the river, and masses of vapor filled the valleys in 

 various directions. There was scarcely enough wind blowing to 

 lift a feather, and all looked forward in happy anticiiDation to 

 a swift and easy journey. It Avas determined to camp for the 

 night in a small valley some few miles to the northward, 

 and all haste was made to rejoin the sleds, which were on the 

 full gallop and liable to outdistance us. A few minutes after 

 overtaking the sleds a sudden roaring assailed our ears, a fog- 

 bank to the eastward burst asunder, and from its recesses issued 

 forth a wind that nearly swept us from our feet. Clouds of giit- 



27— Nat. Geog. Mao., vol. IV, 1892. 



