Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-09
THE STARS AND STRIPES AT THE NORTH POLE APRIL H. 1908
by he New

were well into Inglefield gulf, and near
1ttiblu there was strong head Wlnl
and enough ice about to engage the
eye of the lookout.
We aimed here to secure Eskimo
guides and with them seek caribou iii
OIricks bay. While the yacht was
lacking for a favorable berth in the
drift off Kanga the launch was lowered
and we sought to interview the Eski-
mos of Ittiblu. The ride was a wet
, one and Mr.. Bradley had the first i'm
portant use for his raincOat. as Shor-
choppy sea poured icy spray over us
and tumbled us about with vigorous
thumps.
There were only one woman, few
children 'and about score OF dogs 1T
the place The woman talked quickly
and explained at some length that her
husband and others were away on 4
caribou hunt, and she told us without I
leading question the news OF the tribe
for a year.
After gasping for breath like a smoth-
cred seal, she began with news of
previous years and history OF the FOR
gotten ages. We started back for the
launch and she invited herself to the
pleasure of our company to the beacn.
An Eskimo Trade.
We had only gone few steps before
it occurred to her that she was in need
of something. Would we not give her
few boxes Of matches in exchange for
narwhal tusk? We would be de-
lighted. said Mr.. Bradley, and hand
full of sweets went with the bar
gain. Her boy brought down two ivory
tusks, each eight feet in length. The
two were worth one hundred and fifty
dollars.
Had we a knife to spare? Yes. and a
tin spoon was also given. just to show
that We were liberal.
The yacht was headed northward across
Inglefield gulf This made fair WIND
and we cut tumbling seas of ebony with
d racing dash. Though the wind was
strong, the air was remarkably clear:
The great cliseled cliffs of Cape Arh-
land rose in terraced grandeur under the
midnight sun. The distance over was
twelve miles, but we had hardly hnlshed
last evening the series OF submerged
rocks and shallow water
1t is necessary for deep sea craft TO
give Karnah wide berth. 1here Were
heres enough about to hold the water
down. though an occasional sea rose with
d sickenine thump
The launch lowed the dory, of which
Nance and her children were the only
occupants. We, preferred to give her
the luxury and privacy Of separate con
veyance for several reasons. the most I'M
portant being the necessity OF anoroins
room for her dogs and her househoio
furniture, consisting VI tiice ou'e' "a
skins and sticks.
Karnah was to be her future home. ana
as we neared the shore we tried to locate
Ikwa but there was not man IN toWn
Five women. fifteen children ana ioaS-
five dogs came out to meet us. me
men were on a hunting campaign ana
their location was not exactly known.
Attahtungwah. Names rival. Iat, I'M
sociable creature. stood on a useful stone
where we chose to land, and did not ac-
commodate us with footing on the same
platform She had not seen Nance for
seven years. but she scented the game.
ard gave us the cold shoulder for the
part we had innocently played In 1t.
ikwa IS not there. SO no open breach
of etiquette could be possible.
A Thrifty Eskimo Camp.
There were five sealskin tents pitched
among the boulders of a glacial stream