HOSPITABLE NATIVES. 406 



some were obliged to get up and run to keep up the circula- 

 tion. 



In the morning boats were launched (the ice having 

 drifted away from the shore) and headed for Noonamoo, the 

 native village at North Head, but the ice again closed in and 

 the crews had to turn back. The boats were hauled upon 

 the beach and a camp was formed of overturned boats, sails 

 and tents, and all found shelter from a violent snow-storm 

 which had set in. Half a pound of pemmican and some 

 bread were served out to each man for the day's rations. 



Next morning, December 2d, a party of natives (two of 

 whom were visiting the ship when the fire broke out) ar- 

 rived at the camp with sledges drawn by dogs, and invited 

 the shipwrecked people to their village. The invitation was 

 gratefully accepted, and, after the storm had abated, all the 

 party (excepting a detachment left behind to take care of the 

 boats and other property) started for Noonamoo, about seven 

 miles distant, escorted by the natives, whose sledges had 

 been loaded with provisions. They arrived at Noonamoo af- 

 ter a most fatiguing tramp over hills and through snow from 

 two to four feet deep, and were distributed among the eleven 

 huts or habitations which constituted the settlement. Here 

 they were speedily introduced to walrus and blubber as an 

 article of food, and settled down to a long winter's siege, 

 adapting themselves to <he customs and requirements of 

 savage life among the Chukches. 



A few days later a party was sent to the camp on the 

 beach, and, as the ice had drifted away from the shore, the 

 boats Avere launched, loaded with the remaining stores, and 

 taken around to the village, where they were hauled up for 

 the winter. A barter trade with the natives was now com- 

 menced, and soon all the men were comfortably clad. Every- 

 one was compelled to live on native food, the provisions 

 saved from the ship being kept as a reserve. 



It soon became evident that the supply of walrus meat in 

 the village was insufficient for so large a population, and as 

 people from other villages had invited some of the men to 



