WEAKV DAYS Ol' WAITING 1 63 



quite a hole, and badly frightening Matt, who was lying there. 

 IMatt's foot is improving somewhat, antl probably in a few days 

 his condition will be such that he will be able to get about. 

 This prospect is gratifying to me, as I have determined to go 

 to the head of the bay in about three weeks, there to await 

 Mr. Peary's return, and I wish to have Matt for my companion. 



Monday, July 4. This evening I was treated to a native 

 vegetable dish. Returning from a walk to Cape Cleveland, 

 I met ]\Iane and her children coming to meet me. She told 

 me they eat the little purple flowers which bloom so abun- 

 dantly almost everywhere in this vicinity, and asked me to 

 try them. I found that they were quite as sweet as our clo- 

 ver blossoms, and they have, besides, a very aromatic flavor. 

 Mane had brought two of our tin mess-pans with her, and we 

 filled them with blossoms and sour-grass. On reaching Red- 

 clifife Mane mixed the flowers and sour-grass, then, pouring 

 a little water on them, put them on the stove. I suggested 

 that she wash them so as to remove at least some of the 

 sand, at which she laughed, saying that sand was good for 

 the stomach; nevertheless, she made a show of washing them, 

 and then let them boil for about fifteen minutes. The flavor 

 was a peculiarly pleasant one, but I thought it a little sour, 

 and added some sugar, which gave it something of the taste 

 of rhubarb-plant stewed, only more aromatic. 



This concoction is the only vegetable dish that these people 

 ever have, and this is only eaten by the women and children, 

 not by the men. On the other hand, the men eat the eggs 



