ON THE SMITH SOUND ICE 319 



from perspiration. Otherwise the moisture will 

 freeze, with frost-bitten feet as a result. 



The temperature at this time was a few degrees 

 above zero. All the skins were frozen stiff as boards, 

 and though, while yet unfrozen they had been folded 

 into shape to fit upon the komatiks, they were neverthe- 

 less unwieldy in this frozen condition, which in- 

 creased the difficulty of packing the loads closely and 

 snugly, a detail I left to the ingenious Eskimos. The 

 tent and other belongings of my own I attended to 

 personally. While the Eskimo will do everything 

 possible for the white traveler's comfort, one thing 

 my experience taught me he will not do: he will not 

 interfere with his guest's personal belongings. One 

 must collect these things one's self, and put them in 

 shape for proper loading, otherwise they will be left 

 behind. 



We began our retreat with a strong northeast wind 

 blowing, and increasing indications of snow. Tuk- 

 shu's team had been reduced to six dogs through cas- 

 ualties in the hunt, which threw upon him much 

 hard shoving and hauling of the heavily loaded 

 sledge. One of his dogs a very fine animal, badly 

 wounded but still living he attempted to carry on 

 the komatik in the hope that it might recover, but 

 the poor beast died soon after our start. I called a 

 halt that the dog's pelt might be removed. Here I 

 learned that the Eskimos have a superstition against 

 skinning a dog whose death has been caused by an- 

 other animal, and there was much discussion before 

 they consented to do it. 



