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216 ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



varied for some time. Occasionally seals were obtained, princi- 

 pally by Ugarng and Ebierbing, and then a grand feast of raw 

 food took place. 



The improvidence and thoughtlessness of the Innuit people are 

 remarkable. If they can live bountifully and joyously to-day, the 

 morrow may take its chance. This was repeatedly shown in the 

 conduct of one and all during my residence with them in the 

 igloos. Not even Ebierbing and Tookoolito were exempt from 

 this failing. They would eat, and let others eat up all they had 

 one day, though they — and, I must add, myself— starved the next. 

 In addition to this want of due consideration concerning food for 

 their own home, Tookoolito was generous in the extreme, always 

 giving when asked, and trusting to what might happen afterward 

 for replenishing the supply. Ugarng's numerous family, consist- 

 ing of no less than seven individuals, made incessant demands 

 upon her and Ebierbing, and also upon myself, whenever it could 

 be done by cajolery, or — as I often thought would follow — by in- 

 timidation. My own stores I freely gave to an extent that I con- 

 sidered advisable, and no more ; but I frequently pointed out to 

 my Esquimaux friends the necessity of husbanding what they 

 obtained by their persevering and arduous labors. It was, how- 

 ever, of no use. Eat, eat, give, give, let go and never mind, seem- 

 ed the principle that guided them ; and, consequently, in a short 

 time starvation again stared the whole village in the face. 



Ebierbing, however, was a most persevering and indefatigable 

 sealer. During that season he caught more seals than any other 

 man ; and on one occasion, by the aid of my rifle, which I had 

 loaned to him, he succeeded in bringing back four seals, after hav- 

 ing taken six, but two were lost. This was on an excursion he 

 took by way of Clark's Harbor to Allen's Island. Ugarng had 

 gone with him, and built an igloo near a narrow channel kept open 

 by swift tides, discovered at that place. The angeko, staying at 

 Clark's Harbor, would not stir from there, having found a deposit, 

 formerly made by us in the ship, of whale krang, and upon this 

 he and his two wives were living — that is, so far as he allowed the 

 poor women to share with him. When, however, Ebierbing was 

 returning with his great prize, this lazy, worthless angeko must 

 needs join him to share in the feast which followed. I need hard- 

 ly say that my own feelings toward the man were not of the most 

 peaceable ; but I was alone, and even my two Innuit friends yield- 

 ed to the sway of their angeko ; hence I was powerless to avert 



