THE GOING OF THE SUN 119 



their meal, the igloo, blood stained and strewn with 

 refuse, was a sight to behold, to say nothing of the 

 stench that filled it. The entrails and other refuse of 

 all the animals, even the blood, were carefully pre- 

 served for the dogs. Eskimos permit no waste. 



The moon was bright, shining through the twenty- 

 four hours, with an excellent light for hunting; 

 therefore the hunters allowed themselves no rest. 

 Immediately they were through eating and the game 

 already secured was properly cared for, they were 

 away again, with dogs and komatiks, on a hunt for 

 walrus. I was so weary, however, I could scarcely 

 stand, and remained in the igloo for rest and much 

 needed sleep. 



Through my close association with the Eskimos, I 

 was beginning to learn a great deal about them and 

 their habits of life. I had held many preconceived 

 and erroneous ideas concerning them now to be re- 

 vised. My own impression, and I believe it is one 

 generally held, had been that they lived an inactive 

 life during the winter night, and that they were in- 

 clined to slothf ulness and laziness during the summer. 

 Nothing can be farther from the fact. While it is 

 true that in the summer period life can be sustained 

 with comparatively little exertion, they are con- 

 stantly waging a fight for existence. During the 

 winter it may be said that they never allow themselves 

 even the amount of rest that civilized people deem req- 

 uisite to health. One hunting expedition is scarcely 

 ended when active preparations are under way for 



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