LIFE IN ARCTIC

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1934, Page 8

LIFE IN ARCTIC

A YEAR IN GREENLAND

DANISH FAMILY’S OUTING

A Danish family, named Ott, comprising parents and four children, the eldest eight years old, have spent the last year in Greenland on a scientific expedition. Their experiences, written by Mrs 'Ott; and brought out to civilisation by the English, airman Mr John Grierson, furpisb a unique record of the successful transplanting into Arctic regions, of q family . that lived for rriany years at Long Island, in the environs of this, .city, says the Vancouver correspondent of the Hoi aid. Mrs Ott. says her children were never in better health, and that she feels they will not welcome their return . to thei former homo when the time comes foi parting, the settlement numbers 120 natiyes more primitive than Eskimos, and half-a-dozen whites. “How did the children stand the hardship of the long. Arctic n ight and the changes it! diet and living manners ? How did we manage without a physician 1 I slipp|pse most mothers will 'he envious to hehr,” she says, “that they have, not been sick one single day. Colds and children's contagious disoa.ses are unknown. ’’

The coming of Mr Gric' son was a .notable event in the lives of the family. , Mrs Ott . says she was proud of her .hoilecl canned liain, hidden away in the previous year, with a label, “For ' Airmen’s AVolccurie Lunch Only.” She acceded tO" AIE Grierson’s request that ho be the label to his i trophies. .In the "winter violent gales shook the house? The,Dutch wind gauge broke after registering 120 miles! An English expedition measured 125 miles at their base, south of Angmagsahk before the wind carried away their anemometer, and began its real work. The house i would rOck like a. ship, t Flatters with steaming, hot (flood 1 would freeze, to the kitchen table within a, few minutes. Pebbles, empty ! .< cans and. snow in sheets came flying through the air,, windows. . They' were prisoners while the gales ; lasted. The children loved the gales, ■ for they Ay.ere, not'permitted to wash, l for feajr water would run short. The .summer was a succession, of delights, although, if froze at night and the temperature rarely went above fifty degrees. Yet the children would go for trips in an open umiak, a large skin boat, rowed by native women and accompanied, by menfin. kayaks. They followed the coast to the south, fore' ing their way. through the field-ice, with its huge imprisoned icebergs. At night a polar bear was surprised swimming near the shore, and the kayak men killed it. Birds and seal were shot from th<£boat" as they'.Travelled, ■ j . "No woqdcr the children thrive in such surroundings,” says Mrs Ott. “For them, it is one glorious adventure after another. The two youngesc are taken on short journeys to the native, surpmer camps toward, the Nprth, t° a deserted island to camp ' overnight, and to a river fqr, salmon fishing for a week, Tlmir. appetites are shocking, and they enjoy such rare dishes as breast of sea-gull, edible sea weeds, tern eggs and matakh. .The lastmentioned is the skin of the marwhale, which tastes like nut. It. will cure scurvy, in a remarkably short time. “What are the things we miss most ? Not theatres,- restaurants or movies, but contact with the literary and political event 1 ) of the world, I dare say the children want more books, though I thought I brought enough for two years, And I should love.to take a real bath in a nice bathroom;- Nurse wants candy; we all want fruit, vegetables aqd eggs. My husband wants a haircut by someone not his wife, and we are particularly anxious to. read the huge bag, of letters expected with the return ofithe supply boat.” -