Netsilik Eskimos V At the Winter Sea Ice Camp

In late winter when the cold is severe the people and dogs are glad to stop their trek and make camp In the blue dusk the men probe the snow and then cut building blocks while the women shovel a site Soon all are under cover and in the wavering light of the stone lamp they sleep their breath rising coldly In the light of day the men test and refurbish their spears harness dogs to the sled and strike out on the sea ice Each man with a dog or two explores the white waste seeking scent of a seals breathing hole When a dog noses the snow the man probes for the hole and when he finds it suspends a single looped hair to signal when the seal rises to breathe Then he waits motionless to make his strike He kills and the others gather to taste the warm liver of his catch Then as night comes the vigil goes on