WINTER QUARTERS 123 



might be able to catch during the winter at certain places on 

 the river. 



Half an hour's travelling brought us to the family abode, 

 which had been put up on a small island surrounded by heavy 

 willow-brush. Kreeseek's father, Taklooksrak, was an old and 

 powerfully-built fellow with a most villainous face. I did 

 not like his looks, but I found out before long that he was a 

 very good man and willing to do anything to oblige me ; in 

 fact, many a month later, when I came to know them better, 

 I liked him best of the whole family. His wife was a small, 

 pleasant-looking woman, but the other son turned out to be 

 one of the least-liked natives. He was a loafer, but, being 

 besides rather a clever fellow, he had managed to impress the 

 other Eskimos with a modification of the Christian religion, 

 and was now the promoter of the said religion and high priest 

 as well, living high on the toil of the other natives, and resort- 

 ing to menaces, such as condemnation to eternal punishment, 

 if they did not fall in with his wishes. The white men were 

 his greatest enemies, and one day during the spring he care- 

 fully explained to Dr. Howe and Ned Erie that they would go 

 to hell while he would be sitting in heaven playing the accordion 

 and gloating over their misery. In explanation I may perhaps 

 add that Dr. Howe had refused to give him some food which 

 he thought himself entitled to. This gentleman's name was 

 Topsia. 



The last but by no means the least important member of the 

 family was Kreeseek's baby brother, about six years of age, 

 who cried whenever he saw me. 



As it was impossible to induce Kreeseek to go further that 

 day, I had to camp, assisted by his family, who were immensely 

 taken up with my outfit. My food box and spare clothing bag 

 especially were the objects of their great interest, and they told 

 me that the former would be much safer in their tent than in 

 mine, as the dogs might break through the canvas and eat all I 

 had. They were rather offended when I allowed myself to 

 have another opinion on that matter. 



However, as I carried some Battle Creek food, and much of 

 it only seemed so much superfluous weight, I gave them that 

 as a peace offering, and they were very happy, although they 

 had not much of an idea as to the way in which to prepare it ; 



