130 ROBERT E. PEARY, INDOMITABLE POLAR EXPLORER 



more than two years old. Surviving the shock, however, it mani- 

 fested its pleasure by lustily kicking and splashing. Perhaps later 

 it enjoyed a well-merited honor amongst its own people as the only 

 one of the tribe who ever passed through the extraordinary ordeal 

 of soap and water. 



In consequence of their innocence of water as a cleansing 

 medium, the "huskies" had two distinguishing characteristics not 

 entirely pleasing to more civilized people. They carried around with 

 them a distinctly impressive aroma, and also thriving colonies of 

 what are politely termed parasites. 



In the matter of clothes they carry their wardrobes on their 

 backs. Fur garments do not wear out very rapidly, and, when a 

 "husky" is full grown, the suit of clothes, made in honor of the event, 

 remains in constant wear until one of two things happens. If the 

 man kills a bear, he has a costume made of the skin and discards; 

 the ordinary sealskin suit for it. If he does not kill a bear, he wears 

 the sealskin suit until it no longer keeps him warm, when he gets 

 another. In their snow-houses during the winter and storms, if 

 the temperature is too warm for them in their thick clothing, they 

 take the clothing off ; being a primitive people, their manners are as 

 simple as their minds. 



The first arrivals at the Peary camp were, however, very useful 

 people. There being no trees in this far northern region, and wood, 

 consequently, being one of their most valued treasures, they were 

 for some time unable to comprehend how the timber to build the 

 house had been acquired. When they saw a fire made in the stove 

 of refuse bits of wood they were still more amazed. Never before 

 had they seen so much fire all at once, and the man, growing curious, 

 kept on feeling the stove to see what the effect would be. When it 

 was hot enough to burn his hand he developed a wholesome respect 

 for it, and afterwards preferred to look at the uncanny object from 

 a distance. 



The problem of how the sewing was to be done was rather a 



