THE WINTER PARTY 39 



and to unload the komatik. This is a local custom; any komatik 

 coming into Nain is always assisted on the last part of the journey 

 by anyone who happens to be around, and when all the gear has 

 been carried into the house the helpers melt away, expecting no 

 thanks for this courtesy, which always made the return to Nain 

 seem like a home-coming and was very welcome after hours of 

 battling with the elements. 



Christmas was spent quietly in social activity, visiting Mr. and 

 Mrs. Grubb of the Moravian Mission, Mr. and Mrs. Clarke of 

 the Hudson Bay Post and various friends among the settlers and 

 the Eskimos. The local silver band was much in evidence, playing 

 on their 'grandstand', the roof of the church, where they stood 

 precariously as they blew in harmony. 



The 3rd January was spent preparing for the second survey 

 camp and, on the morning of the 4th, a small party led by Baker 

 was away to establish and occupy the camp. Buck's spirited private 

 diary describes the rigours of the surveying work and the day-to- 

 day difficulties of sledging and camping. 



4th January. It looked as though it was going to be a really good day as the 

 wind dropped away altogether by 0830, but came in puffs from all points of 

 the compass. 



It finally steadied in the S.W. and by the time all the gear was lashed to 

 the komatiks by 1000, it was getting up. 



We started off and the wind increased to about force 6 before we had got 

 very far, and fairly blew us along. 



We got to the camp site by noon and pitched camp in the same place as 

 last time. 



During our absence, however, a spring must have burst its way through the 

 snow and ice as Marshall fell through into about a foot of fresh water about 

 1 5 yards from our snow shelter. 



Henry started building a snow house for us to use as a survey office but 

 made it rather big and with not enough tumble home so that it was impossible 

 to put the roofing on 'a la Eskimo'. I made him pack up about i J30 and sent 

 him back to Nain as I wanted him to get back before dark. 



We settled down comfortably and had all the fresh water we wanted for 

 cooking and drinking without the bother of having to melt snow. 



jth January. A cold day with wind from the N.W. but not a strong one. 

 We all went away coastlining in different directions. Personally I don't think 

 that I have ever had such a foul day, as the wind, although not strong, was 

 darned cold and going against it simply froze one's head and face. I went up 

 wind and coastlined down wind but it was pretty grim as every time one 

 stopped to fix and 'shoot up', one got beastly cold, the sextant telescope 



