BUFFETED BY STORM AND ICE 67 



to make Annootok. The boat was launched, but 

 again impassable ice drove us back. 



It was upon our return to Etah on the evening of 

 the sixteenth that I observed for the first time a case 

 of problokto among the natives. Problokto is a form 

 of temporary insanity to which the Highland Eskimos 

 are subject, and which comes upon them very sud- 

 denly and unexpectedly. They are liable to have 

 these attacks more particularly at the beginning or 

 during the period of darkness. Tukshu began sud- 

 denly to rave upon leaving the boat. He tore off 

 every stitch of clothing he had on, and would have 

 thrown himself into the water of the Sound, but for 

 the restraint of the Eskimos. He seemed possessed 

 of supernatural strength, and it was all four men 

 could do to hold him. With the knowledge that his 

 madness was temporary and he would shortly be him- 

 self again, with no serious consequences to follow, I 

 cheerfully watched his astonishing contortions. It 

 would have been a very serious matter however had 

 Tukshu been attacked while in the boat; and it is 

 very serious indeed when problokto attacks one, as it 

 sometimes does, when on the trail, or at a time when 

 there are insufficient men to care for the afflicted one. 



At a quarter to twelve that night we determined to 

 make one more desperate effort to reach Annootok. 

 Again the boat was launched, the cargo of heavy 

 boxes put aboard, and with the wind dead against 

 us, we rowed to Cape Ohlsen. It was hard work, 

 but we made a little progress until the tide turned and 

 began to run to the southward. With this and the 



