190 VIKINGS OF TO-DAY 



one day, while a heavy storm was raging, some 

 of those ashore noticed a party in great distress, 

 endeavouring to reach the mainland in one of their 

 smaller boats. A heavy surf was rolling in, and 

 it would no doubt have been risky to go out. So 

 the idea of a rescue seems never to have suggested 

 itself. The people were drowned, and in telling the 

 story themselves afterwards, they said, shrugging 

 their shoulders, " Kujana," meaning, " It must be," 

 or " I don't care for it " a solution which to them 

 is perfectly satisfactory. 



Yet they do at times brave deeds. Once last win- 

 ter Michael and Simeon (they never have two 

 names) in crossing from an island in their kayaks, 

 were overtaken by a kind of blizzard. Simeon be- 

 came unconscious and capsized. Michael, though 

 himself almost in extremis, and having only his 

 tiny kayak to fight the storm in, managed to get 

 his friend out of the boat into which they are 

 usually laced to put him on the back of his own 

 canoe, and to carry him safely to land. Needless to 

 say no Albert medal rewarded his brave deed. Un- 

 fortunately, the art of using the kayak is rapidly 

 becoming lost, largely because the foolish Eskimo 

 part with the seal-skins, necessary to cover their 

 boats, in exchange for cheap and useless European 

 goods. At one time, with their skin kossack or coat, 

 laced over the opening, and fast round their wrists 

 and face, they could upset with impunity, for with 

 a couple of deft strokes with their paddles they were 



