208 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



obliged to throw himself down, completely overpowered. Soon I 

 was by his side grasping his hand, and, with a grateful heart, 

 thanking him for the really good deed he had performed in thus 

 coming alone with the relief I saw before me. 



In a short time the loaded sledge was examined, and I found a 

 box of sundries sent from the ship, as also a very fine seal, caught 

 that morning by Ebierbing himself. There was likewise a quantity 

 of whale - meat, brought from Eescue Harbor for the rise of our 

 dogs. 



Directly Ebierbing could renew his journey, we started togeth- 

 er ; but the dogs and both of us were hardly able to get the sledge 

 along. Finally we reached the shore ice, and here we were so 

 exhausted that not one inch farther could we drag the loaded 

 sledge. Kunniu, wife No. 2 of Ugarng, seeing our condition, hast- 

 ened to give assistance, and with her strong arms and our small 

 help, the sledge was soon placed high on the shore by the side of 

 the igloos. 



Ebierbing's first and most earnest call was for " water." This 

 was supplied to him, and then we commenced storing our new 

 supplies. The seal was taken into the igloo — the usual place for 

 a captured seal — and the sledge, with its contents, was properly 

 attended to. Of course the news of Ebierbing's arrival with a 

 seal "spread like wildfire," and in our quiet little village, consist- 

 ing of three igloos, all the inhabitants with exhausted stomachs — 

 including my own — were prepared for wide distention. 



The seal weighed, I should say, about 200 lbs., and was with 

 young. According to Innuit custom, an immediate invitation 

 was given by the successful hunter's family for every one to at- 

 tend a " seal feast." This was speedily done, and our igloo was 

 soon crowded. My station was on the dais, or bed-place, behind 

 several Innuit women, but so that I could see over them and 

 watch what was going on. 



The first thing done was to consecrate the seal, the ceremony 

 being to sprinkle water over it, when the stalwart host and his as- 

 sistant proceeded to separate the " blanket" — that is, the blubber, 

 with skin — from the solid meat and skeleton of the seal. The 

 body was then opened and the blood scooped out. This blood is 

 considered very precious, and forms an important item of the food 

 largely consumed by Esquimaux. Next came the liver, which 

 was cut into pieces and distributed all around, myself getting and 

 eating a share. Of course it was eaten raw — for this was a raw- 



