28 KXI'KDITION TO FOIST liARROW, ALASKA. 







they cut a groove deep enough to receive the sled-runner up to the beam ; the sled is carefully 

 lilted into the groove, and secured by pouring in water, a littleat a time, and allowing it to freeze, 

 (ireal care is taken in this part of the operation, for should the workmen apply more than a few 

 drops at a time, the slab of ice would be split and the, work all to do over again ; after the ice is 

 firmly secured the sled is turned bottom up and the ice-shoe is carefully rounded with a knife, and 

 then smoothed by wetting the naked hand and passing it over the, surface until it becomes perfectly 

 glazed; the sled when ready for use will weigh over three hundred pounds, and they load them 

 with the carcasses of from seven to nine deer, weighing oxer one hundred pounds each. Men, 

 women, and children harness themselves in with the dogs to haul these loads to the coast, often 

 the distance of one hundred miles and over, seldom making more than eight or ten miles each day. 



April ]. The weather being clear, we improved the opportunity to determine accurately our 

 position. Observations were made for time, latitude, and declination. 



April J. Broke camp at 8 a. m. with MiYnlalu for guide; traveled south thirteen miles 

 parallel with Meade River, which we struck at the confluence of a small stream coming in from the 

 westward. For the last six miles the country had become much more rolling and broken, and at 

 the point where we struck the river to-day the bluff's were over one hundred feet high and showed 

 successive layers of turf and sand, where the action of the river had cut them away during the 

 freshets in the summer. I noticed one stratum of turf live feet thick fifty feet below the surface. 

 There was not sufficient moisture in the sand between the strata of turf to cause it to solidify 

 under the action of the frost. On the bars in the river we found a few fragments of fossil ivory; 

 a fringe of scrub arctic willow skirted the bank of the stream, but no drift-wood of any size was 

 seen. Traveling now became quite, difficult, as the river was too winding for us to follow its course 

 by traveling on the ice, so we kept a southerly course, climbing the bluffs, where practicable, to cut 

 off the bends. The dogs became tired out early in the afternoon, and we were finally obliged to go 

 into camp on the ice under the Ice of a high bluff on the right bank of the river. Marched twenty- 

 three miles. Before dark I climbed to the summit of the bluff, which was one hundred and 

 seventy-five feet above the river, and could see a low range of mountains, running nearly east and 

 west, about fifty miles away. From the break of the country, 1 have no doubt Meade River has its 

 source in that range, so I named them Meade River Mountains. The native guide notified me 

 upon my return to camp that he did not wish to go further south ; that he was unacquainted with 

 the country, never having been so far in the interior before. Beyond this he peopled the country 

 with imaginary enemies. Nothing I could offer would induce him to go further. As I could 

 not well get along without their help in dragging the sled up the hills, I was obliged to make 

 this my turning point, much against my will. We saw no signs of deer, wolves, or any game after 

 we struck the foot-hills; the range of the reindeer seems to be the flat country we had crossed to 

 the north. 



April ''>. Broke camp at S a. in. and returned to MiYfiialu's camp, reaching there at 4 p. m. 

 Weather clear. The sun on the snow fields affected our eyes very seriously in spite of the shaded 

 glasses we. wore, and the natives were affected equally as bad as ourselves. 



April I. Lay over in camp, having our boots dried and repaired and getting ready for tlui 

 leturn journey. Weather clear and cold. 



Ajiril .".. Broke cam]) at .">.:jO a. in. Traveled on our outward trail to camp Xo. l! and slept in 

 the hut we used on our way out. Weather clear and cold, with very little wind. 



April <>. Broke camp at C a.m. Followed old trail back to camp Xo. 1. Weather bright 

 and clear; suffered intensely all day from my eyes, becoming so inflamed I could scarcely see. 

 Mr. Hark does not seem to be, so seriously affected. Temperature fell last night to KP.4; 

 during the day, 14. 



April 7. Broke cam]) at 5..'50 a. m., and reached the station at "> p. m. Was obliged to travel 

 with my eyes bandaged; Apaidyao was also nearly blind. No person can be exempt from this 

 terrible suffering who travels in this region at this season of the year: the blinding glare of the 

 Nun iii)on (he, snow affects the strongest eyes, and we. found no preventive. We had several varie- 

 ties of shaded glasses and goggles, but found as much protection in the wooden shades made aud 

 worn b\ the natives as we d;d in our own improved glasses, and they were much more comfortable, 

 ;x. the moisture from the face did not congeal upon them so readily as upon the wire gauze and 



