82 HUNTING WITH THE ESKIMOS 



so much with sore throat, lame back, and aches in 

 every joint and pains in the chest, that I feared I 

 should be seriously ill. Medicines given me by Dr. 

 Goodsall had been lost through breakage of bottles 

 or freezing, on the trip from Etah, and I was prac- 

 tically without remedies, possessing only a few in my 

 medicine case, none of which suited my ailments. 

 This set me thinking of home. I believe for the first 

 time since my arrival I cordially wished myself back 

 in my room in New Haven, with all the comforts 

 that it implied. But it did no good to worry now, 

 and I put the thought behind me. For a day or two 

 I was compelled to remain the greater part of the 

 time in bed. Then I forced myself out of doors to 

 renew my walks, and felt better. 



On October ninth all the Eskimos in camp turned 

 out in new winter fur clothes. In these costumes 

 nearly every variety of fur and skins found in the 

 country was represented fox, bear, musk-ox, deer, 

 seal and hare, with bird-skin shirts next the body. 

 This day apparently marked a period in the course 

 of seasons the advent of the real winter. 



We were on the threshold of the long dismal night 

 at last. Over the world there came a new and fear- 

 ful stillness that seemed to speak of impending doom 

 something intangible, indescribable, uncanny. The 

 gloom that settled upon all of us was particularly 

 noticeable amongst the Eskimo women. They were 

 affected not only by the natural depression that im- 

 presses itself upon all with the vanishing of day, but 

 an increasing apprehension had sprung up for the 



