Omaha daily bee., 1894-02-25

among a herd of COWS, coming within ff-
teen feet of many of them. The reindeer
(rangifer tarandus). is a native OF upper
Canada, and the Eskimo are largely sup
ported by them. OF late the slaughter of
these poor animals for their tongues, which
are sent to England as a delicacy,
threatens their extinction in many parts,
and the dominion government owes
to itself and the Eskimo to see that
they are protected from the slaughter that
has caused the disappearance2of the buffalo.
At first it was thought best to creep around
the herd in Indian fashion, but such precau-
lions were useless. The deer gathered in
vast crowds or lunches" standing heads
and tails, close together to protect them
selves from the swarms of black flies which
annoy the big antlered monarchs of the
plain. Climbing a small knoll, as far as the
eye could reach, there was a vast sea of
these reindeer, amounting to several hun
dred thousand, and possibly running up into
millions. individuals were scattered about
between the groups and punches, which were
large and arranged Systematically. 1t was a
grand and inspiring sight. Here was one of
Gods herds, untouched by man and fearless
as innocence always is. Never had the hu-
man eye looked upon such a scene, and the
whole vast plain seemed a moving mass of
life. The shores of the lake were muddy
and grassy, the country about was barren
except for the grass and moss on which the
herd was feeding, and fortunately in one
little ravine a small patch of woods was visi-
bic, though this was several hundred miles
| from the wooded region. 1t was most oppor-
tune. The necessity of travel knew no law,
and twenty or more deer were shot.
A hunter could go within 100 yards Of
them, and fire where they were in a group
without exciting their alarm, or get. when
firing, within 200 yards In the open. The
| Indians were crazy with Joy over this advent
of the deer. They took the carcases, and
! after a feast on venison, dried the carcases
by the fire and prepared for further travel.
For several days they were travelling past
this vast herd. They broke camp August 2,
and saw innumerable deer for several days,
and after that. met with them in occasional
bands and were able for a long time to sup
| ply themselves with fresh meat. They esti-
mated the reindeer at millions. A few
woods at the south. the common
gray Russian wolves, while further
north they encountered in very scattered
numbers, the white Arctic wolves. A few
Arctic foxes were also met who looked with
frightened establishment at the fur clad in
vaders of their home. Not Il bird was seen,
though it was to be expected that gulls,
which are common on Hudson's bay, would
be seen here also. Occasional rapids broke
the river, but at only one point they met
with a long impossible strip of river, nearly
a canyon, u wild chaotic abyss, through
which roared and churned the river, and
forced them into a portage. This was just
north of Tobaunt lake.
a SOLITARY CAMP.
Tobaunt lake or Doobant lake, as it is
sometimes known, is a lake apparently of
| the size of Lake Ontario. They journeyed
along it for about 100 miles, and could not
see land on the opposite shore. The shores
were hard and rocky. at times 200 feet In
height. The shores were piled up with Ice
Jams and there was not less than seven feet
of ice on the lake in the middle of August.
Around the lake in many places the hillsides
were covered with snow, The weather con
tinued execrable, wet, windy and of a chill
ing temperature. The ground was frozen
within a few inches OF the surface. No
where had they encountered any signs OF
civilization except on this lake, where they
had found a few old signs OF the Eskimo i'm
habltants. stone circles for the foundation OF
tents, all moss grown. as II they had
been abandoned many years ago. At sew
eral places, as they entered the lake, they
found several of these camps. But 80 far
for the 800 miles since leaving Black lake
they had encountered no human being, nor
seen signs of one. North of Lake Tobaunt,
about one days drive, they encountered the
Big Canyon rapids, a terrific stormy shoot
down the ragged rocks. They Saw a good
many deer and a few wolves. At the foot
of the long rapids they found one family OF
Eskimo They had seen a few signs and at
last came in sight of a solitary Eskimo
camp. The Indians were much excited and
evidently the sanguinary stories
they had heard at Athabasca,
Tho Athabasca Indians avOwed that they
told these stories TO Brighten the other
Indians so that the white men would be kept
out OF their country. n they once gained
access there the game that the Indians were
saving for themselves would be taken and
the Indians would find their country taken
away from them. One cannot blame these
poor fellows for trying to prevent in their
weak way the all-conquering invasion OF the
white man, which has wrought so much
ruin to them,
They were anticipating trouble. The old
Eskimo. who saw the approach OF the ex
plOrers, was in a state of terror and teH
about actively. He put his wives and chill
dren into his deerskin tents and laced III
the fronts OF the tents and rapidly prepared
for hostilities. ]. W. Tyrrell waved hi
hand as he approached and shouted. Chino