The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1909-11-04
HNHE expedIliop vas equInped al

llfeWOTFS Tor tue MORROW OF ceieDra-
lion. but AbOard. as our vessel. the
John Il. bradley. withdrew from the
pier. all was quiet There were no
visiting crowds OF curiosity seekers.
No footing whistles signalized our de
parture
An arctic expedition had been born
without The uslnl public botnbast.
There WINS. indeed no excuse Tor
claumr, Neither the help Of the gov
erurncnt nor the contributions of pri-
vaie indy idnals had been sought. The
project WIS quietly given lie and It's
expenses were paid by John r. Brad
ley It's destiny was shaped by the
writer.
MIR. Rrndley was Interested In game
animals OF the north. | was Interested
IN the game of the polar quest. For
the dime being the business concerned
ny only. II the venture proved sue
cessful here would he time enough 10
rtlse he banner OF victory. II il fail
ed none had the privilege of heapine
upon US the unmeriled abuse which
usually CONES TO the returning polar
iraveler.
lp n brief month all had been pre-
pared for the peculiar mission We
md purchased n strong Gloucester fish
inc schooner. lifted with motor, GOV.
cred for Ice aud louded down with
suitable supplies for prolonged pc.
rind.
one morning the bold cliffs Of Cape
York were dimly outlined In the gray
mist which screened the land. A storm
had carried so much Ice against the
coast bar near approach was i'm
possible. and continued winds kept uD
a sea which made IL equally difficulty
TO land on the ice.
In Ice Free Polar Waters.
Though anxious 10 meet the natives
~ Cape York. we were forced 10 turn
and set a course for the next village
az North Star bay. At noon the sooty
clouds separated, and In the north
through the narrow breaks we saw the
steep slopes and warm color OF Grim
SOP cliffs resting on the rising water.
Darting through the air were count
less guillemots. gnlls. little auks and
elder ducks. We were In the ice free
north waters. where creatures of the
sea bud marine oasis In midst OF
polar desert.
This Kind OF coast extends poleward
10 tie hind $ end. II is the abundant
sen lite which makes human habita-
tion just possible here, though land
animals are also important
The people OF the farthest north are
crowded Into natural reservation by
rhe arctic Ice wall or Melville bay in
the south aud the stupeudous llne of
rlirs OF Humboldt glacier in the north.
Home of the Esknos.
Widely scattered in small villages.
The nort herumust Eskimo finds here
sod living. A narrow band OF rocky
and between the land ice and the sea
'tters grasses upon which feed ptarmi-
rtr. hare aud caribous.
Numerous ellis aud islands afford
resting place IN summer for myriads
- 'fH'iN' A'AANN iiiNN SFth TUE kitluli
Ne OF the lev waters. Blue and white
oyes wander everywhere. Seal. walrus.
iarwhal aud white whale sport In the
'nmmer sun. while the bear. king of
he polar wilds, ruams over the sea at
M tinies.
The yacht lodged the icebergs and
innPerous rocks In the fog about |
-Ape Athol, then turned eastward to !,
ross Wolstenholine sound.
AZ we neared Table mountain, |
which guards North Star bay. many |
atives came out In KAYAKS TO meet /
IS Some were recognized as old /
riends. There was Myah. he OF many
wives: Oohotah. who had executed /
.ngo1gibsah, STYLED the villain by /
ilbson at Redcliffe House. and Pin
Gotta. husband Of the queen. in whose
nmily are 10 be found the only n.y.
rid children OF the tribe.
Later. knud Rasmussen. a Danish
ritter. living ms native among the
eople. came aboard. With him we
OF better acquainted during the win
pr.
Late nj night visit was made TO
1e Town OF Oonanooi There wee
wen triangular sealsSin tents. CON
eniently placed on picturesque rocks.
about these IN large mum
PRS were men. women and children.
IN the midnight chill.
They were odd looking specimens of
In height the men aver
sed bur five feet two inches and the
omen four feet ten inches. All had
road. fat faces. heavy trunks and
Ell rounded limbs. Their skin was
lightly hronzed Men and women
ld coal black hair aud brown eyes,
ne nose was short aud the hands
vi feet were short. bur thick.
There was not much news TO ex-
lange. After we had gone over the
Il OF marriages and deaths the luck
the chase became the topic OF con
.rsntion.
IL was period OF monogamy.
yah had exchanged plurality of
ives for larger team of dogs. and
a"e was bur Que other man in the
lie with two wives.
omen were rather scarce. Several
arriageabie men were forced IN fore
} the advantages of married life ne