zoo CONQUERING THE ARCTIC ICE 



care of, we killed five bitches, but even with the remaining six 

 pups she will have all she can do to feed them. 



The wind was westerly, the first we had for more than a 

 month and a half, and the umiak made splendid headway 

 through the water. Although the sea was rather high and the 

 umiak overloaded, it never shipped any water. Neither 

 Dr. Howe nor myself liked the way in which the boat 

 moved, and thought that it looked too unstable to be quite 

 safe. But it did not take us long to learn that the umiak was 

 all right, and we were soon as unconcerned as Uxra, who 

 steered, and Tullik, who sat on the top of the load, holding the 

 child and keeping peace among the dogs. For sailing in heavy 

 ice the Eskimo skiff is decidedly better than a wooden boat, 

 as it does not stave in nearly as easily, and in case it should 

 collide with a sharp piece of ice, so that a hole is punched, it is 

 only a matter of minutes to get the umiak out on the ice, 

 have the bottom turned up, and with thread and needle repair 

 the harm done. A wooden boat will stave in with a lighter 

 touch, and once stove, the damage is difficult to repair. 



The second day out, while sailing along a sandbar, we saw 

 cariboo ashore, and put in. We three men very quickly got the 

 boat unloaded, carried the tent and gear on the bank, hauled 

 the boat out of the water, and turned it over so as to dry the 

 wet bottom skins. Tullik was gathering dry wood and cutting 

 chips, and we had a fire lit practically the very moment the 

 tent was pitched. We had camped too late to go out hunting 

 that day, and turned in as soon as we had had our supper. On 

 September 25 we started out for the deer, but had a very long 

 tramp before we reached them. The country was low and 

 level, and it was very difficult to come close enough, but when 

 we had come within two hundred yards of the herd without scaring 

 them away, we lay down on the wet, sloppy ground and fired at 

 the same time. The herd, about twenty-five in number, was up 

 and off as quick as lightning, while Uxra and myself continued 

 to fire at the bewildered deer, now running east, now west, 

 until at last they made off, straight for the mountains. 



Uxra chased them for a while, but could not get within range. 

 Only one animal had been brought down by the volley we 

 fired. But before we came to the tent we were very pleased not 

 to have more meat or skins to pack. We immediately skinned 



