342 HUNTING WITH THE ESKIMOS 



mos without an ample provision of food. If they 

 are successful in killing game they satisfy their appe- 

 tite by eating it uncooked, and if they become weary 

 they lie down upon snow or rocks and sleep as soundly 

 as in tupek or igloo, conditions a white man cannot 

 accustom himself to readily. 



Many walrus were now to be seen upon the sur- 

 rounding ice, but the flesh already obtained was so 

 heavy it all but swamped our boat, and no further 

 hunting was indulged in, though I had difficulty in 

 dissuading Tukshu and Abidinguah from pursuing 

 two seals which were sighted. 



I also had much difficulty in persuading the men 

 to return to camp. Having dined well they were in 

 no haste. They did not care whether they returned 

 at once or several days later, and were quite content 

 to lounge about upon the ice. Eskimos are peculiar 

 in this respect. During the long night they are con- 

 stantly active, and in the summer season, when hunt- 

 ing or traveling, they will work hard and tirelessly 

 until their mission is accomplished. Then they relax 

 at once into indolence, feasting and gorging upon 

 the plenty that surrounds them. 



I was very tired, sleepy and hungry. I had not 

 so far learned to adapt myself to the Eskimo mode 

 of life that I could rest properly as they did or to 

 eat uncooked flesh and enjoy it. After much urg- 

 ing I at length succeeded in getting them to move, 

 when the sky began to thicken and black clouds ap- 

 peared in the north, by warning them that our boat 



