the rein-deer. 
135 
calf after their arrival on the coast. In September 
they commence their return to the woods, where 
they spend the winter, and find a sustenance from 
the usnem, alectori®, and the other tree lichens, or on 
the cetrariffi and cenomyces which clothe the rocks 
and ground. In a wild state, this animal is no less 
necessary for the support of the native tribes, than 
it is to the Laplanders in Europe. “ The Chepew- 
yans, the Copper Indians, the Dogribs, and Hare 
Indians of Great Bear Lake,” Dr Richardson re- 
marks, “ would be totally unable to inhabit these 
frozen grounds, were it not for the immense herds 
of deer that exists there. Of the caribou horns they 
form their fish-spears and hooks ; and, previous to 
the introduction of European iron, ice-clusels and 
various other utensils were also made of them. 1 e 
liide, dressed with the fur, is excellent for winter 
clothing, and supplies the place of both blanket and 
feather-bed to the inhabitant of the arctic wilds. It 
also forms a soft and pliable leather, adapted for 
mocassins and summer clothing ; or, when sixty oi 
seventy skins are sewed together, they make a Umt 
sufficient for the residence of a large family. Ibe 
shin-bone of the deer, split so as to present a sharp 
edge, is the knife that is used to remove the hair in 
the process of making the leather. The undressed 
hide, after the hair is taken off, is cut into thongs of 
various thickness, which are twisted into deer-snares, 
bow-stringK, not-lineSj and in fact supply all t le pur 
poses of rope. The finer thongs are used in the ma- 
