ON THES LOWER TELZOA. 109 
While traversing the shores of this body of water, 
which is about twenty miles in length, and which has 
been christened Wharton Lake, a number of magnificent 
specimens of reindeer in prime condition were seen, and 
several of them shot at ranges of from two to four 
hundred yards. By this time—the 22nd of August— 
the skins as well as the carcases of the deer were at 
their best, and the centres of several of the hides were 
saved and dried for use as sleeping mats, while all of 
the fine fat meat secured was applied to the replenishing 
of our severely taxed larder. 
After describing nearly the entire circumference of 
this lake, the outlet, much obscured by a labyrinth of 
islands, was discovered ‘on the east side, close to a con- 
spicuous hill of white quartzite, 230 feet in height. 
At the foot of this hill an Eskimo cache, consisting of a 
“kometic” (sled), snow-shovels, musk-ox horns, ete., was 
discovered, and here on the night of the 22nd camp was 
pitched. As no moss or other description of fuel could 
be found in the vicinity, some of the men considered 
they had “struck a bonanza” in finding the “kometie,” 
and carried it to camp, intending to utilize it for boiling 
the kettle. A slat or two had already been knocked off 
when, happily, I arrived on the scene just in time to 
prevent its destruction and preserve our good name 
with the natives. 
To the Eskimo who owned the sled it was an invaluble 
possession, and for us to have destroyed it for one “ mess 
of pottage ” would have been a flagrant shame. It was 
therefore repaired, and carried back to where it had been 
