nr.Di.irKA] WRITER'S TRIP ON YUKON 109 



(collected two seal skulls) ; a moderate number of flowers and grasses 

 (collected some mushrooms) ; some fossil shells from the bluffs; and 

 two Eskimo burials. One of these, a woman, nearly all washed away 

 and lost; of the other, a man, secured the skull, jaw, one shoulder 

 blade and part of a diseased femur with corresponding socket 

 (mushroom arthritis), also the two humeri. A good specimen. Re- 

 turned, rowing again, near 4. All there playing cribbage and 

 solitaire. 



Am tempted to walk to Barrow; but there are some streams in the 

 nay which it might be impossible to ford. Moreover, no one knows 

 the distance. 



Sunday, August 8. Morning finds us once more thwarted, and 

 standing at our place of refuge. No change in conditions, but there 

 will be a change of moon to-night, so I at least have hopes. In my 

 travels I learned too much about the moon not to believe in it. 

 Toward evening ice begins to move out. 



Monday. August 9. At 12.30 a. m., unexpectedly, a new start. 

 The wind has turned at last (new moon!) to northeast, but is mild. 

 Soon in ice. Many bumps and much creaking and shaking. Cap- 

 tain's collie gets scared and tries to get into our beds, one after 

 another. But very little sleep under these conditions. 



In the morning we find ourselves in a thicker ice field than any 

 before, with floes on all sides. Boat barely creeps. Toward 10 a. m. 

 further progress found almost impossible, and so forced to turn back- 

 ward once more. However, can not even go back and so, near 12, 

 anchor about a mile offshore opposite a small river with lagoonlike 

 mouth and two tents of natives — "Shinara," or " Shinerara." 



Ask captain for a boat to visit and explore the coast. Consents, 

 and so at 1 we go forth, about eight of us, with the captain's dog. 

 Reach Eskimo, photograph the group. All look remarkably Indian- 

 like. Then go to look for skeletal material. Nothing near, so return 

 for the Eskimo boy. He leads me about a mile over the highland 

 tundra to two burials in boxes — not old. Look through crevices 

 shows in one an adolescent, in the other a female (or a boy) with 

 hair and skin still on. Leave both. 



Then into the boat once more after buying some fossil teeth, and 

 with the boy Isaac — his father is Abraham — try to go into the river, 

 and soon get stuck in the stickiest mud (oily shale) imaginable — 

 great work to clean even the oar with which we had to push ourselves 

 off. Land then on the beach and for the next two hours explore 

 that side of the basin. Find remains of two small settlements — 

 seven huts in all. none very old. 



Gather five skulls with parts of four skeletons, most bones missing; 

 also some mushrooms, several interesting humeri of seals, and a piece 



