88 HUNTING WITH THE ESKIMOS 



which she had suffered the day before the return of 

 the hunting party, she had never shown any symp- 

 toms of problokto. 



Our fresh meat had been gone for some time, and 

 the supplies of the Eskimos at the settlement were 

 so far exhausted that the people were in a really 

 serious position, when the hunting party arrived. 

 The sledge loads of meat were, therefore, particu- 

 larly welcome. Whether it was due to this addition 

 to our diet I cannot say, but certainly my physical 

 condition, which had fallen below the normal, at once 

 renewed itself, and in a day or two I felt as fine 

 and fit as ever. 



In the short interval between the return of the men 

 and their next hunting expedition, in which I was to 

 take part, Oxpuddyshou carved for me a miniature 

 sledge and dogs out of ivory. The skill displayed 

 in this direction by the Eskimos was wonderful. 

 Later I attempted it myself, and had some success 

 carving dogs, seals and the like, out of walrus teeth; 

 but it had to be done with a jack-knife, and was very 

 tedious work. My ambition in this line started a 

 carving epidemic, and every one, even the young 

 boys, tried a hand at it. 



Some of the Eskimos displayed a remarkable 

 artistic instinct. One of them drew for me several 

 excellent representations of animals, and reproduced 

 incidents of the hunt. I had but to suggest an idea 

 for a sketch, supply pencil and paper, and in a few 

 minutes a very well executed drawing would be pro- 

 duced. One man particularly had an excellent eye 



