APPENDIX II 335 



the best, in the Northland. Every member of our 

 party assisted me in all possible ways. Jot made my 

 sledge, lashed it together himself, and gave to it the 

 thought and care he would have given if it had been he 

 who was to use it. 



After much careful consideration of the various 

 Eskimos available as companions for the whole way, 

 I chose Esayoo to accompany me, one of Peary's former 

 trusties, a sage old hunter upon whose judgment and 

 loyalty I felt I could rely without any doubt or hesitancy, 

 and E-took-a-shoo, whose courage and ability had been 

 thoroughly tested. 



Esayoo was a middle-aged man who had not yet lost 

 his strength and agility. He was thorough master of 

 the technique of Arctic travel and possessed to a high 

 degree the ability to find game, to pick his way through 

 new and strange lands, and to derive from the dogs the 

 maximum distance of travel without wearing them down. 



E-took-a-shoo was a young man, one of the strongest 

 in the Smith Sound tribe. He was an expert hunter, 

 especially of land animals, and a good dog-driver. He 

 not only was the fastest builder of snow houses in the 

 tribe, too, but he appreciated his superiority in the art 

 and enjoyed exhibiting it. He was loyal, capable, and 

 energetic, a splendid supplement to old Esayoo. 



On these two men I was sure I could depend to the 

 utmost. They would both be loyal, both energetic, 

 and both wise in the ways of the trail. Though Esayoo 

 lacked the energy and dash of youth, he made up for 

 them in the wisdom and judgment of years and experi- 

 ence; though E-took-a-shoo lacked stability and the 

 patience that comes with years, he compensated for them 

 in willingness and strength. They were an ideal pair. 



