VI 



A BEAR HUNT TO HUMBOLDT GLACIER 



DURING the early part of October I devoted 

 myself to the preparation of personal equip- 

 ment for the proposed expedition. A 

 strong box had to be made in which to carry the oil 

 stoves and preserve them from damage on the 

 komatik, should they come in contact with rough ice. 

 I had no bedding warm enough for the open snow 

 fields in the low temperature we were now experi- 

 encing, and therefore secured in trade three musk-ox 

 skins from Kulutinguah, which the women fashioned 

 into a sleeping-bag for us. When the sleeping-bag 

 was finished it seemed to me a very warm and ade- 

 quate protection, but rather heavy for sledge travel- 

 ing, where weight must be kept down at the sacrifice 

 of comfort. Thus, in ample time, I gathered to- 

 gether my Arctic traveling equipment. 



The Eskimos on their part had a general clearing 

 out of incapable dogs, and six were killed that were 

 not good enough haulers, in the estimate of their 

 masters, to pay for the food they ate. A great deal 

 of flesh is consumed by an Eskimo dog, even if it is 

 kept in a half-starved condition, and this is an econ- 

 omy that the Eskimo must look after carefully. 



90 



