8 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 
[chap. 
charge of two train-oil lamps, over which hung two cooking 
vessels, one formerly a preserve tin, and the other a bucket of 
tinned iron. One of the brothers came in with a tray, on 
which was placed a piece of seal blubber, together with frozen 
vegetables, principally willow leaves. The blubber was cut into 
small square pieces about the size of the thumb, after which 
one of the brothers gave the sister a large portion both of the 
blubber and vegetables. The food was then served out to 
the others. Every piece of blubber was carefully imbedded in 
vegetables before it was eaten. When the vegetables were 
NOTTI AND HIS WIFE AITANOA. 
(After photographs by L. Palaiider ) 
finished there was still some blubber, which was given to the 
dogs that lay in the outer tent. After this the boiled spare-ribs 
of a seal were partaken of, and finally a sort of soup, probably 
made from seal’s blood. The sister had a first and special help¬ 
ing of these dishes. I also got an offer of every dish, and it did 
not appear to cause any offence that I did not accept the offer. 
After the close of the meal the cooking vessels were set down, 
the “pesks” taken off, and some reindeer skins taken down 
from the roof and spread out. The older brothers lighted their 
pipes, and the younger lay down to sleep. I was shown to one 
of the side places in the tent, evidently Notti’s own. One of the 
