OF THE POLAR SEA. 131 



In the meantime some people came from 

 the tents, and it took to flight. 



The musk oxen, like the buffalo, herd 

 together in bands, and generally frequent 

 the barren grounds during the summer 

 months, keeping near the rivers, but retire 

 to the woods in winter. They seem to be 

 less watchful than most other wild animals, 

 and, when grazing, are not difficult to 

 approach, provided the hunters go against 

 the wind; when two or three men get so 

 near a herd as to fire at them from different 

 points, these animals, instead of separating 

 or running away, huddle closer together, 

 and several are generally killed ; but if the 

 wound is not mortal they become enraged, 

 and dart in the most furious manner at the 

 hunters, who must be very dexterous to 

 evade them. They can defend themselves 

 by their powerful horns against the wolves 

 and bears, which, as the Indians say, they 

 not unfrequently kill. 



The musk oxen feed on the same sub- 

 stances with the rein-deer, and the prints of 

 the feet of these two animals are so much 

 k 2 



