204 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



Ugarng a disappointed Innuit. But he bore his disappointment 

 very philosophically. He said, in his native tongue, " Away I go 

 to-morrow morning again !" 



The next morning, which was very fine, Ugarng and Jack went 

 out sealing again, while I visited several portions of the island. 

 The following day Ugarng returned once more unsuccessful, 

 though he had remained all night over the seal-hole. This was 

 very bad for the whole of us. We could not now have even a 

 fire-light until another seal was captured ; and when I called at 

 Ugarng's, I found they were in the same condition. Mkujar 

 (Polly) was alone, except her infant and Kookooyer, their daugh- 

 ter by Greorge. They were without light. Her child was rest- 

 less, and she said the cause was hunger. " Me got no milk — meat 

 all gone — blubber too — nothing to eat — no more light — no heat 

 — must wait till get seal." 



While I waited, the second wife came in and said Ugarng was 

 still watching over a seal-hole. Jack soon afterward returned 

 without success. Sad — very sad ! My own state was bad enough, 

 and I felt it severely ; but I could not bear to witness the wants 

 of the poor people around me, having no power to relieve them, 

 unless Ebierbing should soon come back with some provisions 

 from the ship. All that I had to eat was my piece of black skin, 

 and this I relished. Indeed, I could have eaten any thing "that 

 would have gone toward keeping up the caloric within me, and 

 make bone and flesh. 



One night I asked Tookoolito if I might try the taste of some 

 blackened scraps that hung up. I knew that she had reserved 

 these for the dogs, but nevertheless I had an uncontrollable long- 

 ing for them. I was very hungry. Tookoolito replied that she 

 could not think of my eating them — the idea made her almost 

 sick ; therefore I did not urge the matter more ; but soon after- 

 ward I saw they were gone, Punnie (Ugarng's third wife) having 

 taken them, and passed the whole into her own stomach ! 



Ugarng came in late again unsuccessful, and Tookoolito gave 

 him a cup of tea, such as it was, for, owing to the absence of prop- 

 er light and fuel, it could not be well made. Directly he had it, 

 off he went once more to try for seal. 



The next morning Ebierbing had not returned, and we were 

 all at our wits' end to find something to eat. At length Tookoo- 

 lito made out to cut off some of the white from a piece of black 

 skin. From it she "tried" out sufficient oil to use for heating 



