38 Canadian Record of Science. 



to find them as easy to deal with as the others, and therefore 

 decided on proceeding. 



The lodges (5) above alluded to were reached about 1 p.m. 

 We halted for dinner, and here, as wherever we landed, we 

 were treated to several dances performed to a low mono- 

 tonous song chanted by the women. The utmost harmony 

 existed among this interesting people, who appeared to feel 

 much affection for their children. We saw very few old 

 people and they seemed to be well taken care of. The 

 married women are all very slightly tatooed, and the men 

 wore the usual mouth ornaments. The oomiaks are taken 

 up the river by means of a line made of walrus hide, hauled 

 by three or four women and as many dogs. We met several 

 boats thus hauled en route for above. A large Inconnue 

 (Salmo MacTeenm) and white-fish, both of excellent quality, 

 were here traded. The first-named fish, together with carp, 

 loche, herring, jack, blue and white-fish abound in this 

 river. The Esquimaux use nets made of deer sinews for 

 taking them. Small herds of reindeer were seen browsing 

 on both banks and venison was everywhere in great abund- 

 ance, in fact, deer were to be had when required. 



After leaving last night's encampment, we found the 

 country barer as -:re advanced and but thinly wooded, 

 willow being more abundant than pine. Two great bends 

 occurred, across which the Esquimaux make a portage 

 when ascending the river. In one spot we observed a bed 

 of shale similar to, but more friable, than that on Lockhart 

 Eiver. From that time until 9 p.m., when it was found 

 necessary to abandon the canoes, the river gradually in- 

 creased in breadth with longer reaches and a slow current. 

 The immediate banks were at intervals low and muddy, and 

 extended for some distance in an undulating plain to the 

 base of the hilly ground which now ran parallel with the 

 river. Wood at first appeared in clumps, but the country 

 latterly was quite barren, the ground was covered with 

 snow, the weather cold, and not a stick of drift-wood to be 

 seen. 



About 8 o'clock we arrived at nine lodges on the right 



