TALES OF A TRAVELLER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23263, 4 February 1939, Page 9 (Supplement)

TALES OF A TRAVELLER

A PLEASANT sense of fun is shown by Mr. David Haig Thomas in telling to The Times the fascinating story of his winter among the Eskimos of the Canadian Arctic. Some of the Eskimos once asked him if the white people really thought of the Eskimos as wild animals because they ate raw meat and lived half underground. He replied that on the contrary his countrymen thought the Eskimos fine people, but perhaps a little like children. At that they burst out laughing, because, they said, that was just what the Eskimos thought about the white men. One dav there was a shuffling sound outside the tent where Haig Thomas, his friends, and his dogs were sheltered, which they thought might bo a bear. But when the tent-flap was opened there stood five Arctic wolves, snarling aaid full of fight. The dogs did fight with them readily, and there, was a desperate scramble, only ended when Haig Thomas got at his gun. It was clogged with snow and bad to be heated over the primus lamp before .it could be fired.

On another day the party did see a bear while they were sledging. They passed it 200' yards off and shouted. "The bear gave us a look. It seemed to say: 'Oh, yes,, a lot of trippers oat on Bank Holiday.' Long after it was out of sight we could see its steamy breath like a tiny cloud hanging over tho ice." Mr. Haig Thomas brought all his dogs _ home—and one more. Four puppies were born on tho trip, and three perished of cold. But the fourth he had carried in a little bag next to his body and got it back home safely. A very good souvenir, we must all agree.