ROBERT E. PEARY, INDOMITABLE POLAR EXPLORER 131 



difficult one to the white people for a time. To allow the furs to be 

 taken into the Eskimo tent was to invite the introduction of an insect 

 population of which it would be impossible to get rid later. On the 

 other hand, to allow the "huskies" to enter the house too frequently 

 was equally dangerous from the sanitary point of view. A com- 

 promise was effected, by the Eskimo w r oman doing the sewing near 

 the door of the house with some one always keeping an eye on her. 

 Later on, when it was found that little danger of the spread of 

 insects existed if reasonable care were taken, the workers sat inside 

 the house. They were fairly deft in handling the needle, and the 

 suits they made for the party were all excellent and serviceable. 

 These were made on the native pattern, and the later experience of 

 Lieutenant Peary and his comrade Astrup in their journey over the 

 great ice-cap proved that the native pattern was the best for Arctic 

 wear. 



The woman being set to work, a boat expedition in search of 

 walrus was organized, with her husband as guide, Lieutenant Peary 

 and his wife also going. They had not proceeded very many miles 

 up Inglefield Gulf before a light breeze when they saw, on a floating 

 piece of ice, a dozen or so of the animals huddled together apparently 

 asleep. Sailing gently towards them, every one with a rifle ready, 

 a sudden puff of wind sent the boat ahead quicker and farther than 

 was intended, and it struck the ice. The walrus, never having seen 

 a sailing boat before, looked round at it without paying any more 

 attention than if it had been another piece of ice. But the sight of 

 so many valuable creatures within reach of his harpoon was too much 

 for the Eskimo,'and he buried the weapon into the nearest. 



At once the attitude of the walrus changed. The wounded 

 member of the tribe tried to escape, bellowing in its pain, and the' 

 *est slid off the ice into the water and surrounded the boat. Others 

 from neighboring ice patches charged rapidly on to the scene, and 

 the situation of the boat and its occupants was dangerous in the 

 extreme. The ooor Eskimo, his face showing the terror he felt, 



