228 EXPLORATIONS IN THE FAR NORTH 



came on, advancing each foot cautiously, as if trying unsafe 

 ice, until past the barrier. When I hunted them with dogs, I 

 could but pity their stupidity; when a mile from their pursuers, 

 with the woods and safety near at hand, they often turned 

 abruptly and came flying back into danger. 



The Barren Ground caribou is of great value to both the 

 Indians and Eskimos. Some bands of Crees, Chippewyans, 

 Caribou Eaters, Yellow Knives, Dog Ribs, Slaveys, Hares, 

 Loucheux, and Rat Indians depend almost entirely upon them 

 for food and skins for lodges and clothing. Every part of the 

 animal is utilized; the antlers, before the advent of the whites,, 

 were used for ice chisels, the name for this tool and horn being 

 the same in the Dog Rib language; later, they were bored out 

 to make powder flasks, but are now discarded with the hoofs.. 

 The flesh, including portions of the intestines, the feet, tendons, 

 and blood are eaten. The tongues were formerly dried and 

 salted for export by the Company. The unborn calf, the udder 

 of a milk-giving cow, the tongue, the marrow, and the back-fat 

 are the parts held in highest esteem. 



Although I lived for two months with the Dog Ribs and spent 

 a year in their territory, I never saw them eat the contents of a 

 caribou's stomach, 1 though I have frequently seen them empty 

 the stomach to use it as a receptacle for containing the blood 

 until frozen. 



A gadfly (thought to be Hypoderma lineata by Dr. Riley, but 

 in the absence of specimens it is uncertain) deposits its eggs, 

 in the backs of the caribou, in some individuals to the number 

 of several hundred, which renders the skins utterly useless for 

 leather. The grubs were well developed in the latter part of 

 April when I left the Barren Ground. The Indians did not 

 remove them from pieces of meat destined for the kettle. 

 Hearne says of them: 2 "The Indians, however, never could 

 pursuade me to eat the warbles, of which some of them are re- 

 markably fond, particularly the children. They are always eaten 

 raw and alive out of the skin and are said by those who like 

 them to be as fine as gooseberries." Richardson writes: "It is. 

 worthy of remark that in the month of May a very great num- 

 ber of large larvae exist under the mucous membrane at the 



1 Compare Hearne, Journal, p. 316. 

 " Ibid, p. 197. 



