ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA 



one hundred and fifty years ago, we have his assertion that 

 musk-oxen frequented the vicinity of Fort Churchill, four 

 hundred miles south of their present haunts. 



It is no doubt a fact that, not only have the musk-oxen 

 been driven farther and farther from the haunts of men, but 

 that their numbers have been correspondingly reduced from 

 year to year by the natives, who have long pursued a policy 

 of systematic slaughter in quest of the princely robes so much 

 in demand by the fur-traders. 



Without pretending to justify an action of which I have 

 since been ashamed, I will here endeavor to narrate my first 

 experience in musk-ox hunting, which will serve to illustrate 

 some of the characteristics of the animals. 



It was 10 p.m. one glorious sub-arctic night in summer 

 when I, in company with a fellow-explorer, might have been 

 seen climbing to the summit of an elevation of land not far 

 distant from our camp, on the shore of a large lake. We were 

 armed only with field-glasses, compasses and note-books, for 

 our object was that of discovery, being at the time well 

 within the bounds of the unknown. 



Seating ourselves upon a large boulder upon the hill-top, 

 •our first impressions were those of enchantment, for though 

 the hour was late, the sub-arctic sun was barely hidden below 

 the northern horizon, and the lovely landscape was still 

 hrightly illumined by its ruddy glow. 



At the base of the elevation upon which we rested, and 

 extending several miles to the northward, stretched the placid 

 -waters of the lake, and beyond it, so bright was the night, 

 with the aid of our glasses we could distinctly trace many of 

 the details of the distant shore. 



We were thus engaged in admiration and topographical 

 sketching when, upon a green valley some three miles across 

 the lake, .several dark moving specks came into view. They 

 at first were thought to be caribou, which are the most com- 

 mon animals of the country, but upon closer scrutiny were 



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