m 
SURVIVAL ON LAND AND SEA 
EDIBLE FUNGI AND LICHENS 
Many edible mushrooms occur in the wooded sections, but 
one kind is poisonous (Fig. 51). This is white or greenish or 
grayish brown, is smooth on top, has white gills, and a bulbous 
base. To be on the safe side avoid any mushroom with white 
gills and a swollen base. All others may be eaten. 
Among the edible lichens of the North are reindeer moss 
(Fig. 62) and Iceland moss (Fig. 63) which resembles it. These 
are low, moss-like plants with a network of branching stems in- 
stead of leaves. To be eaten they must first be soaked in water, 
then dried, ground into a powder, and again placed in water for 
several hours before being boiled. This will produce a sticky 
porridge-like mixture which though somewhat insipid to taste, 
has considerable food value. 
Another edible lichen that may be prepared in the same way 
is rock tripe (Fig. 64) a black or brown leathery lichen that 
grows abundantly on rocks all through the Arctic. It has broad 
fronds, 1 to 3 inches in diameter, folded or crinkled at the edges 
and attached to the rock at the center. Bock tripe is commonly 
used in the North as an emergency food. Sir John Franklin, 
Richardson and other early Arctic explorers lived for weeks on 
it with hardly any other food. 
Arctic Ailments 
Showblindness is caused by the glare from snow and ice, not 
only from light reflected directly by the sun, but also from dif- 
fused light when the sky is dark and overcast. Though actual 
blindness does not result, the condition is painful and serious. 
