324 FOUR YEARS IN THE WHITE NORTH 



scientific studies of the rather large area about North 

 Star Bay. 



Though we were somewhat reluctant to leave Etah, 

 the invitation was so urgenti >^ repeated, and the oppor- 

 tunity for valuable scientific work seemed so good that 

 we finally decided to go. We were earnestly supported 

 in our decision by Doctor Hunt, whom Mac had left 

 in charge of the station and who insisted that it was 

 our duty to go. 



As soon as we had made our decision we began assem- 

 bling the equipment and supplies that we expected to 

 need for the summer's work. Because of Peter Freu- 

 chen's insistent assurances that he had ample food for 

 all our needs, and his urgent request that we refrain 

 from carrying with us anything but a little fruit and 

 some other tinned goods, we made no attempt to take 

 any substantial supplies with us. 



The first week in May we left Etah for North Star 

 Bay, part of a long train of eleven dog-sledges. At that 

 time the midnight sun was two weeks old and travel 

 was easy and pleasant. Just south of the Cape Alex- 

 ander glacier our party met another party of thirteen 

 sledges, northward-bound. This was probably one of 

 the largest groups of dogs, sledges, and Eskimos ever 

 gathered together at one time in that part of Eskimo- 

 land. For almost half a day we stayed there, boiling 

 coffee, walrus meat, seal meat, and whatever else with 

 which the sledges were provided. Everybody was hap- 

 py, everybody loath to go on, and only when the dogs 

 became so unruly that a general mix-up threatened did 

 the assembly break up. 



We stopped a few days at Nerkre, where most of the 

 tribe was congregated for the annual spring walrus-hunt. 



