254 HUNTING WITH THE ESKIMOS 



though like the flesh of all aquatic animals, has a de- 

 cidedly fishy flavor. 



Oxpuddyshou came particularly to tell me that two 

 of Awhella's dogs had died, that he could get none 

 from the other Eskimos, and his own team was so 

 much reduced it would be impossible to go after 

 musk-ox for the time being. After talking the mat- 

 ter over with the two men, I decided to have them ask 

 Eiseeyou if he would not engage with me for the trip. 

 I should have gone with them to Nockme myself to 

 see Eiseeyou, and to spend a few days witnessing the 

 walrus-hunt, but this would have left Billy absolutely 

 alone at Annootok. 



On the twenty-third the highest temperature re- 

 corded was forty-one degrees below zero. The 

 lowest record I did not get, as the marker on my 

 thermometer became jammed at fifty degrees be- 

 low. One must actually experience this low tem- 

 perature to fully comprehend what it means. I have 

 often been asked whether one can really notice any 

 difference between thirty and fifty degrees below 

 zero. My answer is, yes, most decidedly. I froze 

 two fingers very painfully on this day, picking up a 

 small piece of ice just brought into camp, to put in 

 the kettle. It stuck to my fingers and I had to pour 

 cold water on it to free them from it. 



The Eskimos were up very early to make ready for 

 their return southward. I prepared them a good 

 breakfast of hot cornmeal and tea, with all the bis- 

 cuits they cared for food of which they were very 

 fond helped them load their komatiks, and they left 



