Arctic silence extends to the horizon. Howling storms announce the onslaught of winter. The Eskimos in northern Canada gather and divide "into two parties called respectively the ptarmigans and the ducks, the ptarmigans comprising all persons born in winter, and the ducks all persons born in summer. A long rope of seal-skin is then stretched out, and each party laying hold of one end of it seeks by tugging with might and main to drag the other party to its side."¹