The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-30
HUNTING REINDEER.
From the London Standard.


mountains were wrapped in mist. One
could only dimly discern the blush,
furrowed glaciers which, like great riv-
ers, traversed the mountain side, as if
making for the deep frozen lake. A
hunt was, all the same, to be attempt
ed, and we drove against the wind in
an easterly direction along the borders
of the lake. We had hardly covered
more than five miles before the dogs
got the scent of reindeer, which they
can nose at a great distance; but as
none of us thought that we were very
near the deer we allowed the eager
pulled UP to have a look round We
tied the dogs to some stones, but could
not make them keep quiet. They snarl-
ed and growled necessarily while we
proceeded along the side of the lake,
with loaded rifles, and climbed a small
hill. Then we saw, at a distance of
not more than 1000 feet, a large herd
of reindeer, about twenty, uneasily
moving about on plain, but there was
no rise in the ground behind which we
could shelter. The dogs went on with
their music and the reindeer began to
move in the direction of the lake We
threw ourselves fiat on the ground,
all tve of us, and, out of breath, be-
gan to creep over the snow in order
to get shot at the herd before they
reached the lake. But what almost
invariably happens also happened here
the lack of discipline among the
Greenlanders made them quite forget
our agreement about a united attack,
and that we should only fire from
reclining position. The Greenlanders
are accustomed to go out shooting sin
oil h,v 1@1 A.
disregard the wishes of their complain
ions. Lars, the eldest of them, who
was in front, suddenly rose to his full
hight and fired. But he missed and
the reindeer at once started off in hur-
ried flight. A couple of bullets which
we sent after them at a considerable
distance only served to further fright
en- the deer, which, when at a safe dis
lance again joined forces, and in In
dian file, with almost military precis-
ion,. disappeared across the lake. We
stood for a long time watching these
grand animals, which, with proud bear
ing, fled from the danger that menace
ed them, and at last vanished in the
mist.
We spent the rest of the day in a
fatiguing exploration of the mountains
looking for deer. of which, however,
we saw none. The following night was
very trying one for me; had the
toothache. The climate and the food
of Arctic countries often spoil the teeth
of Europeans. l did not know what
to do. / had no remedies handy. and
cid not get a wink of sleep on account
of the intense pain. But when, the
next morning, we set out in clear frosty
weather, with eager, alert dogs, ira
Versing the lake in a westerly direc-
ton, the excitement of our anticipated
hunC drove all fhOn ohtG ~ h
ache. 1t was a long and fast drive
That day we meant to have some deer.
Lars three dogs had unfortunately
made off during the night, and had
probably gone back to their comrades
at Sarkak. and he and 1 consequently
had only my nine dogs for our sIedge,
none of which knew anything about
reindeer hunting. In Nugsuak dogs
play about the same part at a reindeer
hunt as in the Upernavik district, fur
thest north in Danish West Green
land, they do at an ice bear hunt. They
scent their way to a track, follow it
up, take the huntsman to his prey
and stop the wounded animals.
We had. therefore, some trouble in
keeping up with the two other sledges
both of which had clever reindeer dogs
IN their teams. which in wild longing
Tor a taste of reindeer blood. rushed
along a track they had just found. with
some trouble they were pulled UP, and
we then saw, about a mile off, seven
reindeer grazing unconcernedly on a
PLAIN. Quick action was now essen
tial. We at once abandoned our meth
Cd OF the previous day-of trying to
approach the animals by creeping on
the ground; and instead made up our
minds to drive against the wind as
quickly as possible in the direction of
the animals, and rush in among them
with rifles ready. And off we flew, the
sledge jumping and humping violently.
MY dogs became quite unmanagea BILE
when they saw the other teams rush
off. In a few minutes Johan's sledse
had come to close quarters with the
nerd, which suddenly discovered us. and
in their terror did not know in which
direction to fee. BY throwing a hoop
under the sledge runners Johan man
aged to pun up his sledge, and, in spite
OF the frantic pulling of the dogs, to
take aim and fire. An animal with a
smashed foreleg limped hurriedly away.
The Copenhagener's sledge now came
rushing up; it was promptly stopped.
and he and Pavia fired once or twice
| saw in the distance one deer fall life
less to the ground and another limp
away wounded. At last my sledge. too.
came up, but then the rest of the herd
mad gone off in the widest flight. Lars
ana could not reach them with our
bullets.
John and PaVia embarrassed some Of
their reindeer dogs, and with these
running some distance ahead of their
sledges, they both drove off in the
direction of their respective wounded
deer l jumped on to Johans sledge.
ana we soon caught sight of his rein
deer which, holly pursued by two
loose dogs, spent it's last strength in
a desperate flight for safety. Then one
Of the dogs managed to get hold of
the animals hind legs, upset him. and
rush at his throat. We thought the
deer was already dead when we reach
ed 1t, and were just going to stop our
team, when it got up with q rush:
with a violent shake 1t rid itself Of
the dog, and continued it's flight. But
the dogs kept it at bay until we came
up, and l sent a bullet through its
brain.
In the meantime the Copenhageaer
and Pavia also got hold of their
wounded deer by the aid of one of
the dogs, and we soon all met with out
three trophies-a hind and two young
deer. Lars and l, however, were not
quite satisfied with the result. We
borrowed Pavia's best reindeer dog. a
beautiful little white fellow, harnessed
him to our team, and set out in a vest
erly direction in the hope of being
able to overtake the four deer which
had escaped. On we drove for a long.
long time, when all at once we saw
the four animals, and our team, egged
q. u.