THE ESQUIMOS 
sought the base of the cliff for shelter. I 
have been there and I have seen one of my 
Esquimo companions felled by a blow from 
a rock eighty-four pounds in weight, which 
struck him fairly between the shoulder-blades, 
literally knocking the life out of him. I have 
been there, and believe me, I have been afraid. 
A hundred-pound box of supplies, taking an 
aerial joy ride, during the progress of a storm 
down at Anniversary Lodge in 1894, struck 
Commander Peary a glancing blow which put 
him out of coromission for over a week. 
These mighty winds make it possible for the 
herbivorous animals of this region to exist. 
They sweep the snow from vast stretches of 
land, exposing the hay and dried dwarf -wil- 
lows, that the hare, musk-oxen, and reindeer 
feed on. 
The Esquimo families who came north to 
Cape Sheridan with us on the Roosevelt found 
life much more ideal than down in their native 
land. It was a pleasure trip for them, with 
nothing to worry about, and everything pro- 
vided. Some of the f am lies lived aboard ship 
all through the winter, and some in the box- 
house on shore. They were perforce much 
48 
