DAYS IN CAMP 287 
August 7th was pretty well, you will admit.] It, the 
ham, is scraggy now.’ 
August 7th.—We found this afternoon several willow- 
grouse broods. The chicks of unequal size, the oldest a 
fortnight old perhaps. 
You won’t want detailed accounts of our shooting. 
We never shot but for the pot, or for skins. 
The other day I noticed a pair of Arctic skuas hanging 
round a pool, and they were there again to-day. Hyland 
walking round found a fine young one in the rushes. 
We took it home. 
The Samoyeds, who go by the sun, have supper 
earlier every day. I heard such peels of laughter from 
the choom this evening that I went in, and found them 
playing with one of my india-rubber paper-bands. Their 
delight was marvellous. They put it over each other’s 
necks in turn, and snapping it passing it round the 
circle. But when Mrs. Uano’s turn came it suddenly 
broke, and snapped her on the nose. She looked so 
startled at the unexpected attack that I laughed, but 
the others only said ‘Ah,’ and a sudden great quiet 
fell on them while they reviewed the wreck. 
All this seemed to me so natural. Which of us would 
not be just as much delighted on seeing such an extreme 
example of elasticity for the first time? 
August 8th.—With a south-west wind and sun to-day 
