Page:Across the sub-Arctics of Canada (1897).djvu/125

 While traversing the shores of this body of water, which is about twenty miles in length, and which has been christened Wharton Lake, a number of magnificent specimens of reindeer in prime condition were seen, and several of them shot at ranges of from two to four hundred yards. By this time—the 22nd of August—the skins as well as the carcases of the deer were at their best, and the centres of several of the hides were saved and dried for use as sleeping mats, while all of the fine fat meat secured was applied to the replenishing of our severely taxed larder.

After describing nearly the entire circumference of this lake, the outlet, much obscured by a labyrinth of islands, was discovered on the east side, close to a conspicuous hill of white quartzite, 230 feet in height.

At the foot of this hill an Eskimo cache, consisting of a "kometic" (sled), snow-shovels, musk-ox horns, etc., was discovered, and here on the night of the 22nd camp was pitched. As no moss or other description of fuel could be found in the vicinity, some of the men considered they had "struck a bonanza" in finding the "kometic," and carried it to camp, intending to utilize it for boiling the kettle. A slat or two had already been knocked off when, happily, I arrived on the scene just in time to prevent its destruction and preserve our good name with the natives.

To the Eskimo who owned the sled it was an invaluble possession, and for us to have destroyed it for one "mess of pottage" would have been a flagrant shame. It was therefore repaired, and carried back to where it had been