The San Francisco call., 1910-10-30
pany. New York. Price So. so.


optimism. When anything goes wrong,
instead of feeling badly he treats it as
ejoke circumstances have played upon
him. So Kuldah and Kulutinguah
laughed. The dogs had played huge
joke on them
The author gives a vivid description
of his sensations when he and his party
out hunting discover that the ice they
are on has broken adrift; it is no joke
for awhile and they are obliged to take
desperate chances, but finally they gain
the mainland safely. Another interest
ing description is a race down the side
of a glacier in dog sleds. The author
says he never went so fast before ex-
cept possibly in an automobile. He
himself came to grief and had mar
row escape from death, but like the
Eskimos he is learning their optimism
and all's well that ends well.
Mr.. Whitney says: 1T was very
amusing to watch the Eskhnos prepare
for bed. They stripped naked. then
wrapped themselves in deerskins and
rolled up in a bunch as close together
as they could get 1t makes no diff
ference to them how crowded place is
is always room enough and for one
more" He says further that the women
were quite beyond his understanding
For weeks at a time they would re-
main inactive within the igloos, TAX
ing no physical exercise whatever, and
then start out. upon zoo or 800 mile
journey or more. often with good
sized pickaninny upon their backs, run
ming uphill and down after the koma
tik and never showing signs of weari-
ness
The author tells OF a curious super
stition among these people, which for
bids any Eskimo to eat hare until he
has killed his first bear. On several
occasions | offered hare meat TO chill
dren. Invariably they asked me if it
was okoody thare), and when they
learned that 1t was passed it back to
me without tasting it. Similar super
stitions prevail as to ducks eggs and
deer's meat"
Mr. Whitney made elaborate arrange
ments to so on his muskox hunt, enS
gaging number Of tried and trusted
Eskimos to join the expedition. They
were in Annootok and one evening,
greatly to their surprise, Dr. Frederick
A. Cook and two Eskimos. who had
been his sole companions for two years,
came into camp. The author accom-
panied them to Etah, where they found
some supplies, then Doctor Cook left
for the south on the way to oiviliza-
tion Not a word is said as to~his dis
seovery of the north pole and one won
ders whether the author omitted this
Intentionally or if Doctor Cook omitted
to tell him of his discovery.
During the trip to Ellesmere land
for the hunting the author gives a re-
markable menu of a meal consumed by
the Eskimos one day. He says:
Il shall never forget the feast that
those Eskimos had when we next
halted I made careful note of what
the six men consumed within three
hours-seyen hares (these weigh from
10 TO II pounds each before they are
dressed); one seal, about bucketfui
of dried walrus meat prepared by Doc
tor Cook for dog food while he was
at Annootok, two large cups of tea and
four biscuits per man. a good part of
the seal and all of the hare meat they
ate raw. like hungry dogs
All sorts of hunting trips are de-
scribed, some involving much danger
and hardship, but all of interest. The
customs of the people are thoroughly
gone into and with so much attention
to interesting detail that any one inter-
ested in arctic life and adventures will
read the book with excitement and
profit The illustrations are from pho
tographs made by the author and are
excellent They show the people and
the country in d new and different way
than ever described or pictured before.
The book contains a unique record of
arctic experiences. for the author by
being cut off from civilization for more
than 4 months was forced to study the
natives in way not before attempted
by any scientific investigator and he ac-.
auired much new information. No lover
of books of travel and adventure can
afford to be without this one. 1t is
Of great value and interest.