66 HUNTING WITH THE ESKIMOS 



to be done on it to make it snug and firm for the 

 winter. The snow already fallen, though sufficient in 

 quantity for dog-traveling, had been swept off the 

 rocks by high winds, else we should have given up 

 the thought of going with the boat and pressed dogs 

 and komatik 1 into service. 



Several of the Eskimos, impatient to get into win- 

 ter quarters at Annootok, left on foot; but I had 

 many things to take in the boat articles which I 

 deemed necessary to comfort. Advantage was taken 

 of our enforced stay at Etah to have Eskimo women 

 make hare-skin stockings and other necessary clothing 

 for me, for the time was at hand when they would be 

 needed. It was even now so cold the streams were 

 frozen solid, and the only water obtainable was melted 

 ice or snow. 



I applied myself, too, to acquiring the Eskimo 

 language. While it is a language unique in itself, 

 and only years of residence among the natives them- 

 selves will give one facility in the use of its many 

 idioms, and enable one to understand a running con- 

 versation between Eskimos, it is possible in a short 

 time to acquire a sufficient vocabulary to make oneself 

 understood, and to understand simple statements 

 directly addressed to one ; and already I congratulated 

 myself that my attainments were fast approaching 

 this stage. 



September sixteenth was one of those calm days 

 that come in the midst of a long period of storm, 

 and it seemed a propitious day for another attempt 



i Sledge. 



