REVIEWS 157 



disposition, as well as the better sledges and dogs. The mutiny led by 

 the second in command, which had culminated at CoUinson Point, made 

 the preparations for the initial ice trip across the Beaufort Sea several 

 weeks late in starting, and it was this trip which was to test out the plan 

 of the commander. When about to start, a gale of exceptional severity 

 intervened and further held up the departure until the season was so 

 late as to render the expedition hazardous. Shortly after starting out 

 on March 22, 19 14, one of the men was severely wounded by a fall and 

 had to be taken back; then two of the best men together with the best 

 dogs who had been sent back with sledge loads but were to rejoin the 

 expedition, were unable to do so owing to a gale and consequent drift of 

 the floes; yet after ninety- three days on the ice the little party of three 

 men made a landing on Banks Island after having traveled about 700 

 miles over the ice floes and conclusively demonstrated the theory of 

 exploration in the arctic which Stefansson had so persistently advocated 

 in the face of universal opposition. This method was to have many 

 other demonstrations during the more than five years that the expedition 

 remained in the arctic. 



Yet a careful reading of this and other parts of the narrative leaves 

 one in little doubt that it is only the exceptional man trained in the 

 technique of seal-hunting and one content to adapt himself to the all- 

 meat diet, who can carry out such an expedition successfully. He must 

 be ready at times to crawl over the floes for hours, lying all the time in 

 ice-cold water in order to stalk the seals necessary for his sustenance, 

 and when on land he must be ready to hunt continuously perhaps for 

 as many days before securing the necessary caribou. In the opinion of 

 the reviewer, Stefansson, in the effort to prove to his readers the friendli- 

 ness of the arctic to the explorer, has made them see the necessary hard- 

 ships through his own eyes, those of a quite exceptional shot with the 

 rifle and today the most experienced living craftsman in the technique 

 of arctic travel. His "residence" in the arctic now exceeds that even 

 of Peary, and his continuous "residence" does also. None the less it 

 is true that he has dispelled many illusions quite generally held and has 

 proved the habitability of the northern "barrens" of British America, 

 where a great industry may be developed in meat supply from reindeer 

 and perhaps other herds. The map of the sledge-journeys indicates 

 pretty clearly that the last land masses of the arctic archipelego have 

 now been charted. 



A very valuable contribution to our knowledge which has resulted 

 from Stefansson's expedition is the means of preventing or of curing 



