XXI 



HUNTING THE NARWHAL 



THE ice-foot around Cape Ohlsen was gone 

 and this forced us to cross the steep moun- 

 tain behind Etah on an overland route. For 

 the first quarter-mile, upon turning from the bay, 

 the earth was entirely bare of snow and the dogs 

 were unable to haul the loaded sledge over this 

 space. We were therefore compelled to carry the 

 goods on our backs up the steep bare slope to a point 

 where snow still remained. I had carried two back 

 loads up, and was pretty nearly exhausted with the 

 effort, when old Ilabrado, who could see us from his 

 tupek at Etah, came to my assistance and helped me 

 with the balance. Abidinguah had all he could do 

 to get the empty sledge to the top of the steep hill, 

 pulling with the dogs over bare rocks. 



Beyond the carry the snow was deep and soft, and 

 I recall this trip to Annootok as one of the hardest 

 of my experiences, from the point of physical exer- 

 tion. Dogs floundered and komatik sank deep in 

 snow. Unfortunately I had not taken snow-shoes 

 with me and at no time had felt greater need of 

 them. Sometimes we dropped to our waists in 

 softened drifts and always nearly to our knees. 



S46 



