stefansson-wrangel-09-34-053

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Freuchen--". . .the fog set in--the terrible, heavy,
Arctic fog which can last for days. One can see the sunlight
against the dense fog and one can see the peculiar rainbow
made by the ice crystals in the air."

Also-- . . ."Aloqisaq (a widow) was put to work pre-
paring the skins and furs we needed to equip the whalers for
the trip south. They all had to have new leather kamiks and
pants and Navarana was in charge of the sewing.

Aloqisaq was delighted with the arrangement, but she
had a different program in mind for her nights.

’Remember that I am a widow,' she smiled. 'I have to be
satisfied with men who visit me occasionally, and I’ll be
glad to take care of the white men. I want to show them
true hospitality!”

Freuchen says Eskimos sometimes refer to the polar bear
as "The Great Lonely Roamer”--make it "The Great Lone Wanderer."

Some lines of verse might add something to the book.

In her loneliness, Ada would sometimes
have recourse to her earliest memories.
Memories of her grandmother chanting an
ancient Eskimo lullaby. They were a com-
fort, these lines, and helped to restore
a feeling of the cosiness and security
of childhood.

The wind and the snow cry out,
My little one sleeps on the ledge;
So silent and safe
As I watch her close by.
Ah ya hey---Ah ya high.

The wind has abated, the stars shine again.
The owl and the fox are about;
But the foraging bear
Shall never come nigh,
Ah ya hey---Ah ya high.

NOTE: These verses are pseudo, but they match the type of
Eskimo chant or "song" of which Freuchen given us quite a few
examples. I don’t believe they could infringe his copyright.

Freuchen--referring to the Arctic. "a rugged and severe
world. It has a majesty and heanty haunting beauty all
its own."