NOMADS 171 



The Samoyeds were much mystified at the trouble I 

 took about these plants, not being able to imagine to 

 what use I would put them. Although they have dis- 

 tinct names for many of the birds, the plants, except 

 the edible forms, are all lumped together as ' omdoh,' 

 which is to say, 'a flower.' 



July ^th. — During the night a big wind arose. It 

 grew and grew until it raged all day, a gale with rain and 

 snow. A vile day ; you could not walk ; to go out was 

 to be almost blinded. 



And now, for the first time, I lost faith in the tent. 

 It was one of those known as 'Whymper' tents, which 

 are contrived for Alpine work. They are made of 

 ' Willesden ' canvas, recommended as waterproof. These 

 tents are excellent in dry and still weather, but in a wind 

 the sides bulged in badly. I always thought that this 

 might be met by a portable set of ribs ; but how they 

 could be fortified against rain with wind I do not know. 

 Rain which falls quietly runs off well enough, but driving 

 rain comes straight through. Very soon, then, the tent 

 was flooded ; and for the rest of the day we were fighting 

 the water, making what contrivances we might for guiding- 

 runnels clear of our things. By putting blocks under the 

 floor we just managed to keep a corner dry where we 

 would sleep. 



Not doing this, we were skinning and blowing eggs ; 

 and it was a great disappointment to find that two grey 



