The sun., 1908-03-26
STEFANSSON TO ARCTIC AGAIN
WILL SPEND ANOTHER YEAR
AMONG THE ESQUIMiUX.

VIII Try New Field Near the Mouth Of the
COppermIne RlVer-NIll Live on the
Country, study the Peoples Language
and Customs and Collect Folklore.
V. Stefansson, the e,hnologist who spent
the winter of l9Oe-O7 in the tents and houses
Of the Esquimaux in the region Of the delta
Of the Mackenzie River, is preparing to
start next month for the mouth OF the
Coppermine River, about 400 miles east Of
the Mackenzie, to spend another year
among the natives Near th5 mouth OF
that river and in Prince Albert Land, the
large island north OF ii. there are Esquimau
tribes that have never seen white men.
They are therefore especially good sub
jects for study
II is Mr.. Stefansson's own enterprise,
though he will 60 out under the auspices
Of the American Musuem Of Natural His
tory, which will bear a considerable part
of the expense. Whalers and members Of
the Mlkkelsen-I -Ieffingwel polar party who
came home last fall gave Stefansson a
great reputation as pedestrian and man
who was not fraid to live solely on the
resources Of the country.
II will be remembered that last summer
he crossed the northern part Of the conti-
nent alone from the Mack enzie TO the Yukon,
rafting down the Poroupn River for 900
miles, and in Alaska he reached the tele-
graph in time to contradict the false report
few hours after it had been cabled all over
America and Europe that the Mikkelsen-
Letiingwell sledge party had perished.
He had pla ned to travel alone on his
next journey, but it is now probable that
the American Museum Of Natural History
viii send naturalist with him, He will
descend the Mackenzie and at Fort Mac
pherson, the most northern post Of the
Hudsons Bay Company, he will take pas
sage the remaining 100 niles down the river
20 the Arctic Ocean in an Esquimau boat.
Reaching the Arctic he will 20 east along
the coast by boat as far as possible and
when stopped by ice he will take 10 dog
sleiEes, expecting TO reach the mouth Of
the Uoppermine or the neighboring island.
He does not expect 10 take any food
supphes but will live on the country, as he
has already done in those northern regions
for about a year and a half. Steiansson
saws that food Is easily obtained near the
mouth Of the Mackenzie, for the fish are
abundant He is less certain Of favorable
conditions near the Coppermine. Every
thing will depend upon the friendliness Of
the natives and upon whether the season
is favorable for securing an ample food
supply. Enough caribou might be killed In
a few good days 10 feed camp all winter,
but under unfavorable conditions ltmight
not be possible 10 secure pound OF meat
II the prospect OF starvation should
make Il necessary TO retreat he will make
his way 10 Great Bear Lake and down the
Bear River to Fort Norman. or will
retraoe his steps along the coast 10 Baillie
Island, Cape Bathurst, where whaling
captain is TO land a small supply Of pro-
visions for him.
Mr.. stefansson viii continue his study
Of the Esquimau language and dialects
and Of all the manners and customs Of
these primitive people and also the col-
lection Of their folk lore and specimens Of
their handicratts. He was engaged for two
years in Iceland in antiquarian work for
the Peabody Museum and was q member
OF the staff Of that institution when he
signed with the Mikkelsen-L Lefangwell ex.
pSdition IN 1909 as ethnologigts