they fall asleep; if
they chance to awake they eat again. Half of them are asleep now, and
snoring. The other half are eating slowly, for they are nearly full.
The heat and smell are awful! I am perspiring at every pore. We have
taken off as much of our clothes as decency will permit. Sam has on a
pair of trousers--nothing more. I am in the same state! There is
little room, as may be supposed. We have to lie huddled up as we best
can, and a strange sight we are as the red light of the flaring lamp
falls on us. At this moment Myouk's wife is cutting a fresh steak. The
youngest boy is sound asleep with a lump of fat between his teeth. The
captain is also sound, with his legs sprawling over the limbs of half a
dozen slumbering natives. He is using the baby as a pillow. It is
curious to think that these poor creatures always live in this way.
Sometimes feasting, sometimes starving. Freezing out on the floes;
stewing under their roofs of snow. Usually fat; for the most part
jolly; always dirty!

"It is sad, too, to think of this; for it is a low condition for human
beings to live in. They seem to have no religion at all. Certainly
none that is worthy of the name. I am much puzzled when I think of the
difficulties in the way of introducing Christianity among these northern
Eskimos. No missionary could exist in such a climate and in such
circumstances. It is with the utmost difficulty that hardy seamen can
hold out for a year, even with a ship-load of comforts. But this is too
deep a subject to write about to-night! I can't keep my eyes open. I
will, therefore, close my note-book and lie down to sleep--perhaps to be
suffocated! I hope not!"

Accordingly, our young friend the doctor did lie down to sleep, and got
through the night without being suffocated. Indeed, he slept so soundly
that Captain Harvey could scarcely rouse him next morning.

"Hallo! Tom! Tom!" cried he loudly, at the same time shaking his
nephew's arm violently.

"Aye, eh!" and a tremendous yawn from Tom. "What now, uncle? Time to
rise, is it? Where am I?"

"Time to rise!" replied the captain, laughing. "I should think it is.
Why, it's past eleven in the forenoon. The stars are bright and the sky
clear. The aurora, too, is shining. Come, get up! The natives are all
outside watching Sam while he packs our sledge. The ladies are going
about the camp whisking their tails and whacking their babies in great
glee, for it is