MUSK OX. 
S13 
little farther south than in the country between 
Churchill river and the river of Seals, on the west 
side of Hudson’s Bay ; from thence they inhabit* 
to the latitude of 73° north, beyond which the 
human inhabitants of those regions have not pene 
trated. They are most numerous between the 
latitudes of 66° and 73°. They are also found in 
the land of the Cris or Cristinaux and the Assim- 
poels, as well as among the Attimospiquay, a na- 
tion supposed to inhabit about the head of the 
river of Seals, probably at no great distance from 
the South Sea ; and it appears that they extend 
southward, even to the provinces of Quivera and 
Cibola. Some skulls of animals of this species have 
been found on the mossy plains near the mouth of 
the Oby, near Siberia ; but as the species is not 
known to inhabit thai country at present, it has been 
conjectured that the carcases to which these 
skulls belonged, may have been floated on masses 
of ice from America ; or the species may have 
been once common to both Asia and America. 
These animals seldom visit tracts of wood> but 
delight in rocky barren mountains. They run 
swiftly, and display great dexterity in climbing 
rocks. 
They &re shot by the Indians for their flesh and 
skins. The flesh tastes strongly of musk ; and 
the heart particularly is so much infected as to be 
scarce eatable. The rest of the body, however, 
is very wholesome food. The Indians use the 
skins as blankets ; they also dispose of both the 
flesh and skins at the forts of the Europeans ; 
bringing them down every winter in considerable 
quantities. The hair is so amazingly fine, that 
stockings have been made of it finer than silk. 
VOL. II. s s 
