stefansson-wrangel-09-32-047v

298 THE ADVENTURE OF WRANGEL ISLAND

idea that he might be wanted to be in charge of the
Eskimos if we left them on Wrangel Island.

When the Donaldson landed on Wrangel in September,
1923, everyone—Eskimos and whites alike—were ap-
palled by the tragedy they found, and the Eskimos at
first said no inducement would keep them there a year.
(We have this information from Ada Blackjack).

But during the next day or two the Eskimos walked
about the island and saw more signs of game than they
had ever seen on the alaska coast from which they came; they questioned Ada and were told
about seals, walrus, foxes, and bears. Driftwood for
housebuilding and fuel was much more abundant than
on the Alaskan coasts. So they
became willing and some of them eager to stay. The
original, tentative, plan was therefore carried out and
Wells went ashore with his Eskimo companions. They
were provisioned for two years, according to what they
were used to in Alaska. But a promise was made them
that, if ice conditions allowed, a ship would visit them in
1924.

Up to the spring of 1924 I had been unable to get the
then government of Great Britain (Labor Party) to say
officially whether they intended to surrender British
rights of ownership in Wrangel Island, but it was begin-
ning to look as if they might do so—judging from press
reports.¹ It is generally understood that the British
Labor Party believes that the Empire is too big now and
that they are therefore in favor of decreasing its size.
I have no information, however, as to the effect of this
alleged general policy on the particular case of Wrangel
Island.

¹This is a continuation of the political discussions of Chapter IX.