CHAPTER XII. 

 OCCUPATIONS OF THE ESKIMOS. 



Deer hunting is perhaps the most favored and remunera- 

 tive occupation of the Eskimos. In some districts seals and 

 other animals are extensively sought after, but the reindeer 

 is the universal stand-by. It is hunted with the bow and 

 arrow or spear, and with guns when these can be obtained. 



Having already stated that the only wood available by the 

 Eskimos is broken fragments of driftwood, the inquiry may 

 arise, where do they get material from which to make 

 bows ? The answer is, that lacking material for making such 

 bows as are ordinarily used, their ingenuity comes to the 

 rescue and designs a composite bow, which answers the pur- 

 pose equally well. This implement of the chase is, in the 

 first place, made either of pieces of wood or of horn, neatly 

 joined together. In order to give it strength and elasticity, 

 a stout plaited sinew cord is stretched from end to end around 

 the convexity of the bow, and then twisted until it is brought 

 to the required tension. By this mode of construction, when 

 the bow is drawn, the wood or horn is only subjected to a 

 compressive strain, while the sinew thong takes up the tension. 



Thus very powerful bows are made, though of rough ma- 

 terial ; but in order to use them with effect in killing deer, the 

 sagacity of the hunter is often severely tested, since with 

 the Eskimo there is no cover behind which he can hide or 

 creep upon his prey. The hunter's first precaution is to 

 keep the deer to windward, for the moment they catch the 

 scent of an enemy they are off. To get within range of the 

 wary animals upon the open plains or rocky barrens is often 



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