ARCTIC FESTIVITIES 89 



from Cape York, who express the same surprise at us and our 

 mode of hving as the country boy does the first time he comes 

 to a city. They are dressed in new suits throughout, — kamiks, 

 bearskin nanookies, foxskin kapetahs, and birdskin shirts, — 

 and so the boys have nicknamed them the "Cape York dudes." 

 The younger one, Keshu, is a stepbrother of Klayuh, and he 

 has brought her the sad tidings that their father is very sick 

 and will probably never get well again. I should not be sur- 

 prised if she would return to Cape York with them. 



Monday, December 21. The dark night is just half over; 

 to-day is the shortest day. So far the time has not seemed 

 very long, but I am afraid before we have had many more 

 dark days we shall all think it long enough. I have done 

 nothing as yet toward celebrating Christmas, but I want to 

 make some little thing for Mr. Peary. As far as the boys are 

 concerned, I think an exceptionally good dinner will please 

 them more than anything else I could give them. M'gipsu 

 has made a pair of deerskin trousers for one of the boys, and 

 has also completed a deerskin coat. She is now at work on a 

 deerskin sleeping-bag, which is to be fastened about the neck 

 of the occupant, over a fur hood with a shoulder cape, which 

 I am endeavoring to fashion. 



She is sitting on the floor in my room (an unusual honor), 

 and her husband, Annowkah, comes in as often as he can find 

 an excuse for doing so. He frequently rubs his face against 

 hers, and they sniffle at each other ; this takes the place of 

 kissing. I should think they could smell each other without 



