154 HUNTING WITH THE ESKIMOS 



friends were spending the day, where they were, and 

 what they were doing, and I wished them over and 

 over again, each in turn, a Merry, Merry Christmas. 



Eleven hours were spent in bed ; then I arose with 

 a bad headache, donned fur clothing and walked for 

 a short distance on the ice foot. The stars were shin- 

 ing, the northern lights were bright, and not a cloud 

 was to be seen. It struck me, as one of the peculiari- 

 ties of the region, how quickly storms will come and 

 how quickly pass away. Often when least expected, 

 and in an incredibly short time, a clear sky will be 

 obscured, a gale will rise, and a blinding, biting bliz- 

 zard will be venting its force and fury upon the 

 world; then as quickly snow will cease, wind will sub- 

 side, and as if by magic the heavens will be swept 

 clear of every cloud. 



It was desperately cold, I soon discovered that my 

 nose was frozen, and I repaired to the igloos. Here 

 I learned that while the people were with me cele- 

 brating Christmas the dogs broke into Kudlar's and 

 Kulutinguah's igloos and tore up and destroyed 

 everything within reach. They ruined three fine fox 

 skins that were drying, ate all the fat the two Eski- 

 mos had for light and heat, dragged outside all the 

 walrus meat they had to eat, and made way with most 

 pfit. 



In another chapter I said the Eskimos are opti- 

 mists. They are not only optimists, but philosophers. 

 Life with them is a continuous struggle for existence, 

 yet they enjoy life and are happy. This was a seri- 

 ous loss to Kudlar and Kulutinguah and their f ami- 



