ESKIMO OF Hudson's strait. 219 



Some ingenuity is shown in setting the common steel fox-trap in 

 winter. A wall of snow about eighteen inches high is built in the 

 shape of half a circle the diameter of which is about two and a half 

 feet. Kear the centre from which the arc is drawn, the snow is first 

 well pressed. A hole the shape of the ti-ap is then dug with a knife 

 and the trap being let into it, it is carefully covered with a thin crust 

 of snow so that even if the fox does not actually tread upon the small 

 pan, part of tlie crust when broken will start the trap. In front, and 

 just under the wall small pieces of bait are placed so that in shifting 

 its position to take each piece of bait the fox is certain to tread upon 

 the trap. 



The Eskimo's, amusements are few, and only in one or two do thej 

 seem to take much interest. Throwing the harpoon had the greatest 

 atti'action for the men, and often they might be seen taking their 

 turns at a mark in the snow. Wrestling and running are occa- 

 sionally indulged in, but the weaker side soon loses interest and gives 

 in. Mr. Stupart informs me that while he was stationed here a large 

 snow pleasui-e house was built, supported in its centre by a pillar of 

 snow. The only game noticed, in which they took part in this house, 

 was a kind of tilting, an ivory ring being suspended from the ceiling 

 through which the men tried to put their spears as they walked 

 quickly round the pillar. 



During my stay here football was introduced, and in this they 

 appear to take more interest than in any other game. The bladder 

 of a walrus was well blown and then covered with leather making 

 an excellent football, and it was a novel sight to see them playing. 

 Men, women, aud children all took part in it, and no quarter was 

 allowed. Here a woman cariying her child on her back might b'^ 

 seen running at full speed after the ball, and the next moment she 

 might be seen lying at full length with her naked child floundering 

 in the snow a few feet beyond her. A minute later the child would 

 be again in its place and nearly choking with laughter she would 

 be seen elbowing her way after the ball again. 



Catching ti'out in the summer in the manner described affords 

 great amusement to the children and wild with excitement they 

 were often seen pursuing a poor unfortunate fish in a shallow stream. 

 The boys also spend a great deal of time in making small spears 



