The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-09
Movie Man in the Arctic.
Dreaded Natives Hospitable, Though
Spartans as Parents; and
Many Babies Die
Movie Man in the Arctic.

equipped for spending a year away
from any possible source of supplies
other than those which the Arctic
lands themselves can furnish. 7 had
counted on having good dogs, but now
the good dogs were dead. ! had
counted on DR.. Anderson's company,
but necessity CHIEFLY lack or ammuni-
tom had dictated that he so west for
supplies, and that l depend on Eski-
, mo companions alone. / had counted
on a silk tent and other light equip
ment for summer use, and only the
lightest and most powerful rifles and
| high power ammunition, but during
one of our winter periods of food
shortage I had been compelled to
abandon many of these things.
| Instead of the ten pound silk tent,
| had to take a forty pound canvas one,
old and full Of holes. ] had only 200
rounds for my Mannlicher- Schoenauer
| 6.5 nm. rifle. and had to piece out
with heavier and less powerful black
| powder rifles and ammunition. In all
We had four rifles of three different
calibres, and a total of $50 rounds of
three kinds of ammunition, when the
right thing obviously is to have but
one kind of rifle and ammunition.
/ Had one OF our rifles broken we
should have had to throw away the
ammunition suited to that gun.
Therefore, my three Eskimo felt and
expressed. and I felt but tried to re-
frain from expressing it, that we had
embarked on a serious venture.
Living on the Country.
We started with about two weeks
provisions. These were neither here
nor there as provisions for a years
exploration. fNo would have been
quite as we'll off had we started with
only two days supplies. From the very
outset it was incumbeut on us to
provide each day food for that day
from the animals OF the region. In
carrying out such a programme for a
party Of four each had to do his share.
My main reliance were the Alaskan
man Natkusiak and the woman Pam
nigabluk. Fhe Mackenzie River boy
Tannaumirk, a boy in character
though perhaps % in years, was a
cheerful. X companionable sort of
fellow, but without initiative and dixie
/ OL his men HONtudN 81
not in the best of health.
Our general plan was that the three
Eskimo took care of the sled, one,
usually the woman, walking ahead to
pick out trail through the rough sea
ice, and the other two steadying the
sled from upsetting too often, and pull
ing in harness at the same time to
help the dogs. If they saw seal or a
bear one of them would so after him
while the other two waited at the sled
cooked lunch il 1t was near midday
or made camp il night was approach
ing. If by camp time no game had
been seen the woman Pannigabluk
would stay by the camp TO cook sup
per, while the two men went off IN
different directions to hunt.
That the two should go in different
directions doubled the chances of see.
ing game, but at times 1t caused waste
= OF ammunition in killing more meat
= than needed. The very first time, fol-
instance. Natkusiak killed two sever
or eight hundred pound bearded seals
in one shot, and Tannaumirk a big, fat
grizzly bear in four shots-meat
enough for several weeks IL we haf
J stayed there Eskimo fashion to eat 4
- up. Travelling as we were, heavily
) loaded through rough ice, we could no
= take along more than a hundred
pounds OF meat.
= Although the Eskimo frequentl,
: killed an animal If they happened oil
one along the line of march their chic
0 business was getting the sled load a
! many miles ahead as convenient dur