sighed and prayed to the Lord to help us in this time of need. Jonas
went out in his kayak, and shot an _ugsuk_, not far from our tent.
Towards evening, we saw a fire made by our reindeer-hunters, at the
western extremity of the bay, and they fired their pieces to give us
notice, that they had got some game, and that we should fetch it with
the small boat.

Okkiksuk therefore went, and found them completely overcome with
fatigue, having dragged their game, across the mountains for a
considerable distance. The Esquimaux are indeed able to carry burdens up
and down hill, under which most Europeans would sink, but when they kill
a deer far inland, it is hard-earned food, by the trouble of carrying it
home. Paul had shot two reindeer, of which we received a portion.
Brother Kohlmeister had been on the other side of the bay, and returned
with a large parcel of plants and flowers, the examination of which
afforded him much amusement.

The Esquimaux now boiled a large kettle full of seal's flesh, of which
we were invited to partake. This we did, and thought it a very palatable
mess, particularly as we had tasted no fresh meat since we had left the
North Ikkerasak. The prejudice of the Europeans against seal's flesh,
consists mostly in imagination. The dirty kettle in which the Esquimaux
boil it, is indeed not calculated to excite an appetite, but the meat,
when eaten fresh, tastes much like beef; when cold, it acquires an oily
taste; nor durst a person, not accustomed to it from his childhood, make
a practice of eating it, as it is of a very heating nature, and would
soon bring on serious disorders. It generally prevents sleep, if eaten
at supper.

12th. The wind became West, and cleared the bay of the ice. Brother