CHARLES FRANCIS HALL AND THE INNUITS. 



443 



STORM-BOUND. 



Had Kane but known how to pass an Arctic winter, the world would never 

 have had occasion to read one of the most pathetic accounts ever written of 

 suffering. Buddington, the captain of the " George Henry," had learned the les- 

 son by dear experience. Five years before, when in command of another ves- 

 sel, he had lost thirteen of his men by scurvy. " But," said he, " I am not now 

 afraid of losing any more men by scurvy while I have command over them. 

 Whenever there are appearances of it on board, I will have every pork and beef 

 barrel — salt provisions of every kind — headed up at once, and every man shall 

 live upon bread and fresh provision, such as whale, walrus, seal, deer, bear, ptar- 

 migan, duck, and the like. It is not a little remarkable that persons afflicted 

 with scurvy seem madly inclined to salt provisions, which they know to be in 

 their case absolute poisons. They will go any length to obtain salt pork, even 

 when they have fresh food in abundance." 



Hall's first night in an igloo may stand as a sample of many more. We 

 cite, with much abridgment, from his journal : 



" We encamped at 5 p.m., having found good material for building a snow- 

 house. Ebierbing and Koodloo at once commenced sawing out snow-blocks, 

 while I carried them to a suitable spot for erecting the igloo, which took us 

 one hour to make. As soon as it was completed Tookoolito entered, and com- 

 menced placing the stone lamp in its proper position. It was trimmed, and 

 soon a kettle of snow was over it, making w^ater for coffee and soup. She then 

 placed several pieces of board, which we had brought with us, on the snow plat- 

 form where our beds were to be made. Upon these were placed canvas and 

 deer-skins, and our sleeping accommodations were complete. The drying of 

 any thing that has become wet during the day falls to the lot of the woman. 



