Evening journal., 1909-09-21

row breaks, we saw the steep slopes and
warm color of crimson cliffs resting in
the rising water
Darling through the air were countless
guilemots. guls, little auks and cider
ducks. We were in the icy free north
waters, where creatures Of the sea ind
a marine oasis in midst Of a polar desert
The coast was about two thousand feet
high, evidently the remains of an old
tableland. which extends n considerable
distance northward.
Here and there were short glaciers,
which had cut down the cliffs in their
effort to push to the sea level
Beyond the long, straight line Of red
cliffs a conical rock, the navigator's sign
post, rose from the deep Soon the long
ice wall of Petowik Glacier rose. and be-
yond, to the eastward. we perceived the
waving white Of the overland sea of ice
which submerges the interior of
Greenland
This kind Of coast extends polcward
the lands end. II is the abundant 81
life which makes human habitation just
possible here. though land animals are
also important.
The people Of the farthest north are
crowded into a natural reservation by the
Arctic ice wall of Melville Bay in the
south and the stupondous line of cliffs
of Humboldt Glacier in the north
This coast extends over but three de-
grees Of latitude. but with its many bays
and the great fiords of Wolstenholme
Sound and Inglefeld Gulf the sea line is
drawn out to about four thousand miles.
Home OF the EsIsimos.
Widely scattered in small villages, the
northernmost Eskimo finds here good
livinr. A narrow band of rocky land be-
tween the land ice and the sea offers
grasses, upon which feed ptarmigan. hare
and caribou.
Numerous cliffs and islands afford a
resting place in summer for myriads Of
marine birds that seek the small life Of the
icy waters. Blue and white fox wander
everywhere. Seal. walrus, narwahl and
white whale sport in the summer sun,
while the bear, king Of the polar wlds,
ANdAlo NNEA tue NiA At All NANNfns
Seeking abundant game. this little tribe
of most primitive man does not feel his
hopeless isolation.
The yacht lodged the icebergs and dan
gerous rocks in the fog about Cape Athol,
then turned eastward to cross Wolsten-
holme Sound
As we neared Table Mountain, which
came out in kayaks TO meet us Some were
recognized as old friends. There was
lMyah. he of many wives. and Oobloiah.
lwho had executed Angodgibsah. STYLED the
VILLAIN by Gibson, at Redcliffe House. and
Pincoota, husband Of the Queen, in whose
family are TO be found the only hybrid
lchildren of the tribe.
Later Knud Rasmussen. a Danish
writer living as a native among the peo-
pie, came aboard. With him we got bet,
ter acquainted during the winter.
i Our engines were disabled by loose
universal joint, so we lowered a launch
and two dories to tow the yacht TO a
safe anchorage. At high tide the vesse
was grounded, a propeller which hat
8cen bent was Strengthened and the uni
ersal joint put TO rights.
In the meantime the launch was kept
ushing to and fro, with Mr.. Bradley
md the writer as passengers. On shor,
he harpoon gun was tried and around tn,
bay waters we bagged a number Of eidei
duck.
Eskimo Town visited.
Late at night a visit was made to the
town of Oomanooi. There were sever
triangular sealsbin tents. conveniently
placed on picturesque rocks. Gathered
about these, in large numbers, were men
women and children, shivering in the mid
night chill.
They were odd looking specimens Of
humanity. In height the men averaged
but FIVE feet two inches and the womer
four feet ten inches All had broad. fai
faces. heavy trunks and well rounded
limbs. Their skin was slightly bronzed
Men and women had coal black hair and
brown eyes The nose was short and
the hands and feet were short hut thick
I genial woman was found at every
tent opening, ready to receive the visitors
in due form. We entered and had a shori
chat with each family.
There was not much news to exchange
After we had gone over the list Of mar
riages AID deaths. the luck Of the chass
became the topic Of conversation.
II was a period Of monogamy. Myaf
had exchanged a plurality of wives for q
-tAsRnr e@aA Il aaEvA 80 there was bui