INTRODUCTION OK DOMKSTIO RETNDKER INTO AF.ASKA. 55 



have no stove (this article is to be })uieliase(l in St. Michael), the 

 herders felt disinclined to put np the tent overnight. The whole 

 camp consists of a bonfire, aronnd which we sit making con"ee and 

 are trying to thaw ont our bread and butter which is to serve for 

 supi)er. It is dark and cloudy this evening. The wind is increasing 

 in strength and velocity. After supper and evening prayer we all 

 went into sleeping bags among some small willows near the creek. 



Tuesday, November 10. — The rough road of yesterday had been 

 rather severe on two of our sleds, so before starting out this morning 

 they had to be repaired. At 8 o'clock we started off over the almost 

 snowless tundra. Our progress was of necessity ver}^ slow, having 

 to cross at least half a dozen little creeks on our way, filled with willow 

 bushes which had to be cut down to allow of passing. At 12 noon we 

 arrived at Galsovia, a small native village, about 30 miles from Una- 

 lakleet, w^here we stopped for a cup of tea. In the afternoon we had 

 a better trail along the shore and could travel better. Camp was 

 made at 4.30 p. m. on the beach about 10 miles farther south. Nal- 

 logoroak and I made the camp while Bals and Sara went off to stake 

 the deer. Unfortunately no moss was to be found for several miles, 

 it all being burnt. The wind is blowing hard to-night and it is snow- 

 ing some. It is only by repeated pounding of my hands that I can 

 hold the pencil while writing these lines. At 8 o'clock we all retire 

 in the tent to-night. 



Wednesday, November 11. — The morning hours passed by unusually 

 fast to-day, not because we were more tardy than usual, but because 

 of disadvantages for which w^e are not responsible. Mr. Bals went 

 out in search of better feeding ground for the deer at 4.30 a. m. For- 

 tunately he found a small patch of moss which had not been destro3^ed 

 by fire, where he left the deer while he himself returned for breakfast, 

 which was ready and waiting. After our morning meal Nallogoroak 

 and Sara went to bring the deer, Bals was investigating the strength 

 of the ice and picking the way, while I loaded the sleds and made 

 everything in readiness at camp. It was 10 o'clock before Bals 

 returned and we could go onward. Our way over the new ice was 

 certainly not without risk, but should we have followed the tundra 

 it would have taken probably all day to make the next village, 

 Tlicketawik, which we now reached at 12.30 p. m. There we stopped 

 for cofi"ee and lunch about an hour and a half. The weather being 

 rather threatening, j\[r. Bals did not feel like going auA^ farther; but 

 I i)ursued a different line of reasoning, thinking that if a storm 

 should set in soon we had better go on as far as possible and get to 

 St. Michael, where we woidd not be so dependent on the going or com- 

 ing of the ice. So onward we went about 10 miles more during the 

 afternoon, to Wood Point, where we arrived at 4 }). m. and made camp 

 for tlie nijrht. It is cold to-night. A strong westerlv wind is blow- 



