Page:A Wild-Goose Chase - Balmer - 1915.djvu/268

254 dinner was supplied to the kabluna as guests of the Palugmiut; afterwards, as long as the strangers remained, they would have the right to share in each day's catch as members of the Eskimo community.

Koehler explained this when the new igloos were finished and the party of nine gathered in the larger one. A native stone lamp with animal oil burning in it hung from the roof, replacing the more wasteful oil stoves saved from the ship; the snow house was warm and tight.

"The Eskimos will include us, for a time at least, in their daily distribution of food. Every one who catches a seal will send some meat to us, as they do to others in the village who make no catch. When the fresh meat is insufficient, they will distribute to us, as to themselves, some of the stored caribou meat. Of course we are expected at once to try to provide for ourselves. And of course if we happen to have luck we must share with them; but we'll probably not get anything like our portion at first. We may learn. Shall we start now our watches at the seal holes?"