OF THE POLAR SEA. 



171 



but their prayer consisted of only three words, constantly repeated. 

 One of the hunters yet remained abroad ; and as the wind rose at 

 noon, we had hopes that he was successful. In the evening he made 

 his appearance, and announcing that he had killed a large moose, 

 immediately secured the reward which had been promised. 



The tidings were received with apparent indifference, by people 

 whose lives are alternate changes from the extremity of want to 

 abundance. But as their countenances seldom betray their emotions, 

 it cannot be determined whether their apathy is real or affected. How- 

 ever, the women prepared their sledges and dogs, with the design 

 of dismembering, and bringing home, the carcass ; a proceeding to 

 which, in their necessitous condition, I could have had neither rea- 

 sonable nor available objections, without giving them a substitute. By 

 much solicitation I obtained an audience, and offered them our own 

 provisions, on condition of their suspending the work of destruction 

 till the next day. They agreed to the proposition, and we set out 

 with some Indians for the place where the animal was lying. The 

 night advancing, we were separated by a snow-storm, and not being 

 skilful enough to follow tracks which were so speedily filled up, I was 

 bewildered for several hours in the woods, when I met with an Indian, 

 who led me back at such a pace that I was always in the rear, to 

 his infinite diversion. The Indians are vain of their local know- 

 ledge, which is certainly very wonderful. Our companions had 

 taken out the entrails and young of the moose, which they buried 

 in the snow. 



The Indians then returned to the tents, and one of my men ac- 

 companied them ; he was the person charged with the management 

 of the trade at the hunting tent ; and he observed, that the oppor- 

 tunity of making a bargain with the Indians, while they were drink- 

 ing, was too advantageous to be lost. 



It remained for us to prevent the wolves from mangling the 

 moose ; for which purpose we wrapped ourselves in blankets between 



