CHAPTER IX 



THE NEW YEAR 



The New Year Ushered in with a Fierce Storm — Return of the Noon Twilight 

 — We fail to feel the Intense Cold — Native Seamstresses and their Babies — 

 Some Drawbacks to Arctic Housekeeping — Peculiar Customs of the Natives 

 — Close of the Winter Night. 



Saturday, January 9. The storm which began December 29 

 has continued until this morning. Now it looks as though it 

 might clear off. The new snow is about twenty-four inches 

 deep on a level, and there are drifts as high as I am. 



Fortunately we had a good ice supply on hand, and no 

 native visitors, for they drink twice as much water as we use 

 for cooking, drinking, and toilet purposes combined. The 

 boys have been busy on their individual ski and sledges ; 

 Mr. Peary has been fitting and cutting fur clothing and 

 sleeping-bags; and the "Daisy" has been sewing as hard as 

 she can. The wind is still blowing in squalls, and of course 

 the snow is still drifting, but the moon came out for a little 

 while to-day, and we think and hope the storm is over. 



Monday, January 11. At last clear and cold, and the twi- 

 light is very pronounced in the middle of the day. Every- 

 body is still busy sewing or carpentering. Each one of the 



