o make his knowledge complete, the doctor wanted to visit an
Esquimaux hut; a man who seeks information is capable of enduring
anything; fortunately the opening of these huts was too small, and the
enthusiastic doctor could not get through. It was fortunate for him,
for there is nothing more repulsive than the sight of that crowd of
living and dead objects, of seal's bodies and Esquimaux-flesh, decayed
fish and unclean clothing, which fill a Greenland hut; there is no
window to renew that suffocating air; there is only a hole at the top
of the cabin which lets the smoke out, but gives no relief to the
stench.

[Illustration: "Fortunately the opening of these huts was too small,
and the enthusiastic doctor could not get through."]

Foker gave all these details to the doctor, but he none the less
bewailed his portliness. He wanted to judge for himself these
emanations _sui generis_.

"I am sure," said he, "that one could get used to it in time." _In
time_ shows clearly the doctor's character.

During these ethnographic studies on his part, Shandon was busying
himself, according to his instructions, with procuring means of travel
on the ice; he was obliged to pay four pounds for a sledge and six
dogs, and the natives were reluctant to sell even at this price.

[Illustration]

Shandon would have liked to engage Hans Christian, the skilful driver
of the dogs, who accompanied Captain MacClintock, but Hans was then in
Southern Greenland.

Then came up the great question of the day; was there at Upernavik a
European awaiting the arrival of the _Forward_? Did the Governor know
of any stranger, probably an Englishman, who had come into these
latitudes? How recently had they seen any whalers or other ships?

To these questions the Governor answered that no stranger had landed
on that part of the coast for more than ten months.

Shandon asked the names of the whalers which had last arrived; he
recognized none. He was in despair.

"You must confess, Doctor, that it passes all comprehension," he said
to his companion. "Nothing at Cape Farewell! nothing at Disco! nothing
at Upernavik!"

"Tell me in a few days from now, nothing at Melville Bay, my dear
Shandon, and I will salute you as sole captain of the _Forward_."

The boat returned to the brig towards evening, bringing back the
visitors to the shore; Strong had bought several dozen eider-duck's
eggs, which were twice as large as hen's eggs, and of a greenish
color.