1915] TO UPERNAVIK AND BACK 137 



Tanquary, Freuchen, and Henrick left for the south 

 on the 22d, the first with instructions to proceed with 

 the mail to Upernavik, secure twenty dogs and other 

 articles ordered, and then return to Etah as quickly 

 as possible. E-took-a-shoo and I headed north across 

 Melville Bay for a quick run up the coast, with nothing 

 on our sledges but frozen narwhal meat, a gallon of 

 oil, and a little tea. 



Our dogs, following their long rest, were very stiff 

 and demanded constant exertion of whip and voice. 

 We made camp at the end of fifteen miles, fortu- 

 nate in finding snow suitable for building purposes. 

 A strong wind the following day caused us to appre- 

 ciate our snug little home even more than on the 

 night before. 



A good twenty-eight miles were placed to our credit 

 on the 24th, heading at the end of the march toward a 

 large berg, where we hoped to find snow suitable for a 

 house. In this we were disappointed. A hasty meal 

 of tea and raw frozen narwhal; then back to back, a 

 few deep breaths, and we were off to the land of our 

 dreams — E-took-a-shoo to hills abounding in game, and 

 I to the sunny Southland. 



Our dogs were in a surprisingly good condition, con- 

 sidering what they had been through and the amount 

 of food they had received while running us across Mel- 

 ville Bay in four marches. I am convinced that with 

 good going this journey can easily be done in tln'ee, 

 because we lost much time in following a lead of young 

 ice far to the northeast. 



Once more we enjoyed the hospitality of genial 

 Ahng-o-da-blah-o. Here we were filled to repletion, 

 for he served bear, narwhal-skin, little auks, seal, tea, 



