224 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



able when the thermometer stands 30° or 

 40° below zero, as sometimes happens in 

 this country. 



As we were returning from the tents, the 

 dogs that were harnessed to three sledges, 

 in one of which Mr. Back was seated, set 

 off in pursuit of a buffalo-calf. Mr. Back 

 was speedily thrown from his vehicle, and 

 had to join me in my horse-cariole. Mr. 

 Heriot, having gone to recover the dogs, 

 found them lying exhausted beside the calf, 

 which they had baited until it was as ex- 

 hausted as themselves. Mr. Heriot, to 

 show us the mode of hunting on horseback, 

 or, as the traders term it, running of the 

 buffalo, went in chase of a cow, and killed 

 it after firing three shots. 



The buffalo is a huge and shapeless ani- 

 mal, quite devoid of grace or beauty ; par- 

 ticularly awkward in running, but by no 

 means slow ; when put to his speed, he 

 plunges through the deep snow very expe- 

 ditiously; the hair is dark brown, very 

 shaggy, curling about the head, neck, and 

 hump, and almost covering the eye, par- 

 ticularly in the bull, which is larger and 



