THELONGNIGHT 1C9 



often over fifty feet; in Hudson Strait they are about 

 forty, and there are places on the coast of China where 

 the extreme rise is even greater. 



The two Eskimo women were sent to Cape Columbia 

 with MacMillan's party because the Eskimo men like 

 to have their families with them when they go on long 

 trips. The women are useful in drying and mending 

 the fur garments which are constantly going to pieces 

 in the rough usage of the sledge trips. Some of them 

 can drive a dog team as well as the men, and many of 

 them are good shots. I have known them to shoot 

 musk-oxen and even bears. They do not attempt the 

 walrus, yet they can paddle a kayak as well as the men 

 — to the limit of their strength. 



The accomplishments of the Eskimo women are of 

 the useful rather than the ornamental kind. The hand- 

 ling of the native lamp, for instance, requires great skill. 

 If the lamp is well trimmed, it is as clear and smoke- 

 less as our own lamps; if it is neglected, it smokes and 

 smells vilely. As the Eskimos are not highly romantic, 

 a woman's skill in dressing skins and in making clothes 

 largely determines the quality of husband she is likely 

 to get. The Eskimo men have not a very critical eye 

 for feminine beauty, but they are strong in appreciation 

 of domestic accomplishments. 



Even so early as November we began to be worried 

 about the dogs. Many of them had died; they were 

 nearly all in poor condition, and the food was none too 

 abundant. It is always necessary to take up twice as 

 many dogs as will be needed, in order to provide for 

 probable accidents. On the 8th of November there 

 were only one hundred and ninety-three out of the 



