ARCTIC FESTIVITIES 85 



is named Mahoatchia, and Ikwa says that he and the one- 

 eyed bear-hunter, Mekhtoshay, of Netchiolumy, exchange 

 wives with each other every year. It is interesting to note 

 that these two men are the only ones in the tribe who in- 

 dulge in this practice, yet the other men seem to think it all 

 right ; but the women are not at all satisfied with this so- 

 cial arrangement. 



If some of our dear ones at home could look down upon us 

 now they would be surprised to find how comfortable and 

 contented we are. Everybody is busily engaged in getting 

 the equipment and clothing ready for the long spring sledge 

 journey over the inland ice. Mr. Peary gives me an idea of 

 what kind of garments he wants, and I am making experi- 

 mental outfits out of canton flannel, which, when satisfactory, 

 will be used as patterns by which the skins will be cut, thus 

 avoiding the chance of wasting any of the valuable furs. 

 While I am at work on this, two native women, M'gipsu, wife 

 of Annowkah, with her baby on her back, and Tookyming- 

 wah, the twelve-year-old girl, are both sitting tailor- fashion 

 on the floor, chewing deerskins. The native method of treat- 

 ing the skins of all animals intended for clothing, is first to rid 

 them of as much of the fat as can be got off by scraping with 

 a knife ; then they are stretched as tight as possible, and 

 allowed to become perfectly dry. After this they are taken by 

 the women and chewed and sucked all over in order to get as 

 much of the grease out as possible ; then they are again dried 

 and scraped with a dull implement so as to break the fibers, 



