July, 1S69.] Arctic Temperatures. 425 



feasting and feasting-, when possible, was the rule. The worst of the 

 matter was not, however, theii- sleeping at midday, and devoting the 

 rest to mirth, games, and this feasting; but their making the hunts 

 the occasions for promiscuous concubinage, one example of which 

 will suffice. On the 13th of the month, "Jerry," going off on a hunt 

 in one direction, took with him Ar-mou's wife and three children, 

 M'hile Ai'-mou, in exchange, took "Jerry's" number one wife with 

 her infant as companions on his hunt on a different course ; both 

 parties, as was frequently the case, extending their absence, and 

 leaving Hall to support wives number two, as well as the families of 

 Others who had gone off, providing them literally nothing to eat. It 

 must be added also, with regret, that like exchanges became habitual 

 while all parties were in their snow huts ; and that Hall found it 

 impossible to restrain entirely even his own Eskimo man. Hannah 

 said she " would rather die right away than stay at the bay," and Hall 

 then promised her that she and Joe should return to the United 

 States with him. 



The Arctic Temperature during the month of July was high, and 

 rains and storms were frequent. The first day was gloomy, with thick 

 dark rain clouds and a light wind from the southeast ; the thermometer 

 reading at noon 48°. Through the night of the second and most of 

 the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth the rains were heavy ; the storms 

 coming generally from the south, southeast, and northeast. The 

 tenth, eleventh, and twelfth were hot days, although the wind was from 

 the north-northwest; the lowest readings of the thermometer were at 

 night 40°, 43°, and 46°; and the highest at noon (at 3 p. m. on the 

 twelfth) were 60°, 65°, and 71°; — temperatures spoken of as very 



