1917] THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEPTUNE 307 



Friday, May 25th. — We reached Etah at one o'clock. Our dogs 

 were tired with wallowing through deep snow. Inside of Littleton 

 Island open water compelled us to take the ice-foot; at one place 

 it was so narrow that, to handle one sledge, three men were necessary. 



East of Sunrise Point a seal was seen on the ice. Kjiowing that 

 there must be but little meat at Etah, we tried for it, but lost it. 



Jot had just gotten to bed when we arrived. He was soon up, 

 however, and had coffee and musk-ox meat ready. He and his 

 party had been in from Ellesmere Land only twenty-four hours. 

 They bring some good specimens, among which are two small musk- 

 ox calves, a six-legged musk-ox; and a baby bearded seal. Only one 

 bear to their credit, but musk-ox galore. Their sledges were piled 

 high with skins and meat. 



Saturday, May 26th. — Jot, Oo-dee, and Ah-now-ka left to-day for 

 Ka-mowitz seal-hunting. 



Am busy developing 120 negatives. The water is so dirty that 

 I am about discouraged. Think of sending Eskimos to the lake 

 for a fresh supply. 



Cloudy weather prevents me from obtaining a good double alti- 

 tude for correction of chronometers. Captain Comer is very busy 

 with his tides, therefore I take all meteorological work off his hands. 

 My time is more than full now. Every minute counts from now up 

 to the arrival of the ship. 



Sunday, May 27th. — The warmest (twenty-eight degrees above) 

 and best day which we have had for some time. I developed a few 

 pictures but give it up for lack of good water. 



The Eskimos are busy with their bear skins and catching little 

 auks which can be heard chattering at the cliffs. 



Ice conditions are very much different from last year. From 

 our door not a particle of open water can be seen. 



Thursday, May 31st. — Have been on the jump all day, as I shall 

 be until the ship comes. Drove twice to the point for coal, wood, 

 water, tins, and crated demijohns. Our coal is about gone, there- 

 fore I am continually picking up all the w^ood which I can find. 



Water is now trickling down over the rocks at the falls. Have 

 tins under every trickle and hope to keep us supplied. Have spent 

 much of my time boiling and filtering water for developing 150 

 negatives. 



Have had Wee-we clean our Hamburg machine, which Jot put 

 aside some months ago, with the result that we are enjoying some 

 excellent musk-ox Hamburg steak. 



The wind has played havoc with E-took-a-shoo's tupik. It is 

 flat, and he and his wife are in our cellar for the night. 



