ESKIMO DOGS
The two nearly white dogs on the left are the type North Greenland Eskimo Dog. This species, direct descendants of the Arctic white wolf, is registered by the American Kennel Club
In using this footgear,—which for one who knows how I consider the best there is, and for one who does not know how is nearly useless,—a thick, even pad, or cushion, of the fine, soft, dry arctic grass is arranged in the bottom of the boot, then the stocking is put in very carefully, and a thin layer of the same grass placed in the bottom of the stocking. The object of the first layer of grass is to keep the bottom of the feet warm and to protect them from the sharp corners of the ice. The second inner layer is to take up any moisture from the feet rather than have it absorbed by the fur of the stocking.
The grass sole in the boot should last several days; the one in the stocking may, and perhaps must, be replaced after every march, particularly if the work is hard.
Inner soles of the skin of deer or sheep or bear may be a substitute for the grass, though none is equal to it. The fur inner soles are more easily arranged.
Mittens of both bearskin and deerskin, the former for coldest weather. Both have palm of sealskin, and when the hand is closed in grasping whip or upstander, rifle or ice lance, it is completely protected by the heavier fur. Inner mittens of blanketing and a little dry grass are used to absorb the moisture from the hands, and these can be changed after every march. A band of deerskin with fur inside sewed round the wrists over the pulse helps materially in keeping one warm when traveling in extreme cold.
In the same way that immersing the wrists in cold water when overheated will cool one off quickly and safely, so a warm covering for the pulses assists in keeping one warm. The Eskimos are well acquainted with this fact.
Long as has been this description, the entire suit weighs only a few ounces over twelve pounds, essentially the same as the weight of my winter business suit, underwear, etc., for the latitude of Boston or Portland, not including the overcoat.
In such a suit a man, seated or curled up in the lee of an ice hummock, with arms drawn in and face bent on his chest, can weather in comfort a blizzard at -50 F. In a snow house, on scant rations, such a suit will conserve a man’s heat and strength equivalent to several days’ rations. Such a suit renders a sleeping-bag superfluous, thus allowing its equivalent weight of more pemmican to be carried. On sea ice it is imperative as a matter of safety. In it a man is always ready for instant action, and if the ice-floe splits beneath him while asleep, he can escape.