Doc amputated it. The operation was performed on the dining table, and ether was given by the doctor and men. Some of the eskimos wanted to see the operation, but the maj- ority of them were glad to leave the room when the cutting began. Wed Dec 31 13. It remains surprisingly warm. The average temperature for the past week has been only about 12 below. I, and no doubt all the rest of us too, expected to be having 50 and 60 below at this time of the year. There has been practica- ly no snow, at least so little that it seems there has been none. Ch and the rest of the travellers started this morning again, but were back in a few hours, having found it too dark. We had a dandy dinner of "Inuit" steak. I ran the engine for two hours. The scheme seems to be working nicely. About 11 p.m. we had a New Year's Eve celebration... Mac had a bunch of firecrackers and distributed them among the eskimos, mostly the children, - and the air was soon filled with smoke, noise and fun. They