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(p. 403)
In the afternoon we got into a more hilly country, where the
ground was strewed with large stones. The surface of these was
covered with lichens of the genus gyrophora, which the Canadians
term tripe de roche. A considerable quantity was gathered, and
with half a partridge each, (which were shot in the course of the
day,) furnished us with a slender supper, which we cooked with a
few willows, dug up from beneath the snow. We passed a comfortless
night in our damp clothes, but took the precaution of sleeping upon
our socks and shoes to prevent them from freezing. This plan was
afterwards adopted throughout the journey.
(p. 406) About noon the weather cleared up a little, and, to our great joy, we saw a herd of musk-oxen grazing in a valley below us. [...] the best hunters were sent out; they approached the animals with the utmost caution, no less than two hours being consumed before they got within gun-shot. [...] At length they opened their fire, and we had the satisfaction of seeing one of the largest cows fall; [...] To skin and cut up the animal was the work of a few minutes. The contents of its stomach were devoured upon the spot, and the raw intestines, which were next attacked, were pronounced by the most delicate amongst us to be excellent. A few willows, whose tops were seen peeping through the snow in the bottom of the valley, were quickly grubbed, the tents pitched, and supper cooked, and devoured with avidity. This was the sixth day since we had had a good meal. The tripe de roche, even where we got enough, only serving to allay the pangs of hunger for a short time." .. |
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