152 HUNTERS OF THE GREAT NORTH 



thought that a white man who does well enough in the 

 fall might clo less well in winter. 



We started from Tuktuyaktok February ist with our 

 sledge heavily loaded with fresh fish. The first night we 

 slept at the settlement of Kangianik, about fifteen miles 

 to the southwest. We were stormbound there for the 

 two days following and on the third day we camped in 

 a deserted house, some twelve or fifteen miles farther on 

 our road. After that we would have to make our own 

 camps all the way to Shingle Point. 



This was my first introduction to the real Eskimo snow- 

 house. On the journey east with Roxy we had built 

 vertical circular snow walls five or six feet up and had 

 put a flat canvas roof over. Ovayuak said that that sort 

 of camp was all right in the autumn but now the weather 

 was cold and we would be more comfortable in a dwelling 

 entirely of snow. 



When it came nearly camp time both Ovayuak and his 

 wife began to look for good snow along the way. Some- 

 times one or the other of them would run a few yards 

 to one side to examine a drift but they were either too 

 hard or not hard enough. Eventually we came to one 

 that was just right. 



A drift just right for an Eskimo snowhouse is four 

 feet or more in depth and of uniform consistency. First 

 you determine the surface hardness by glancing at your 

 footprints as you walk. With the soft Eskimo footgear, 

 you should leave just enough of an imprint so that your 

 trail could be followed. Tf your foot makes no mark 

 the snow is too hard, and if it sinks in so that the entire 

 outline of the foot is visible in the snow then it is too 

 soft. Tf the surface hardness is right, you next drive 

 a rod of some sort down through the snow to judge the 



