74 



The National Geographic Magazine 



HAULING THE CARCASS OF A POLAR BEAR ABOARD THE SHIP 



on the legs seemed to be considered foul 

 play and must be paid for by the life of 

 the offending canine — the whole pack 

 uniting in his execution. 



"The one important point in which our 

 equipment differed radically from that 

 prepared for other attempts over the 

 polar ice was in the use of ponies. These 

 tough little animals are accustomed to 

 the very lowest temperatures experienced 

 in the steppes of Siberia, some parts of 

 which are considered the coldest places 

 of the earth. .They are also accustomed 

 to forcing their way through deep snows 

 and across frozen rivers whose shores 

 are lined with broken ice and deep drifts. 

 They had been used first by Jackson, 

 who believed them superior to dog teams 

 and used them in preference to dogs on 

 his trips of exploration and survey 

 through the Franz Josef Archipelago. 



"On smooth ice the dog's traveled 



faster than their rivals, but as soon as- 

 they struck rough going, the ponies out- 

 distanced the dogs easily, at the same 

 time dragging heavier loads. The men 

 driving the dog teams were tired out at 

 the end of a day's march by the constant 

 exertion in helping the dogs pull their 

 loads up grades and over ice-blocks, but 

 it was seldom that the ponies required 

 assistance. 



"Over I20 polar bears were killed dur- 

 ing our two years' stay in the Franz 

 Josef Archipelago. Scurvy was un- 

 known and the general health of the 

 party was good. 



"During the summer our party secured 

 seventeen bears, and we luxuriated in 

 bear steaks fried in butter. Most of the 

 men enjoyed the meat, which was not un- 

 like beef when prepared carefully, by 

 cutting away all fat before frying. Thei 

 fat gave the meat a rancid taste. 



