584 



AKCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



then sends it out in a fine, well - directed, and evenly - applied 

 stream upon the runner, where it at once congeals. When, after 

 some hours' travel, the coating is worn away, it is renewed in the 

 same manner. But the question naturally arises, How can the 

 water be carried without freezing ? The Innuit does this by fill- 

 ing a bag of sealskin or ookgook bladder, and slipping it down be- 

 tween his shoulders, under his clothing, the warmth of his body 

 keeping it liquid. 



Once, while I was on a sledge-journey with Koojesse, I was suf- 

 fering from thirst, and we had no water. Koojesse turned aside, 

 and went off with his seal-spear upon a little fresh-water pond. 

 I knew that the ice there would naturally be ten feet thick at that 

 season, and therefore wondered how he expected to find water. 

 After looking about carefully for some time, he selected a place 

 where the snow seemed to be very deep, and there, after clearing 

 it away, he struck with his spear upon the ice, and very soon 

 made a hole through which he obtained water. When I inquired 

 about it, I learned that a heavy body of snow falling upon the ice 

 would press it down, allowing the water to come up and collect 

 above it. The surface of this collected water would freeze, form- 

 ing a comparatively thin coating of ice, but leaving a reservoir of 

 water inclosed, which could be easily reached, as I found to my 

 relief. 



On another occasion, while traveling in a bitter cold day, facing 

 a cutting breeze, I found great difficulty in keeping the lower 

 parts of my body from freezing. The Innuits saw me trying to 

 shield myself and gain additional warmth by adjusting a thickly- 

 folded scarf ; this they took from me, made it into a girdle, and 

 tied it tightly round my body just above the hips. This restored 

 warmth to me at once, and warded off the danger of freezing. 



