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2

^[[7089]]

[[circular stamp]]
Smithsonian Institution.
DEC 31 1865
[[/circular stamp]]

near Bherings Straits eastward to Norton Bay (north end of Norton Sound and eastward from there to Nulato [[strikethrough]] which [[/strikethrough]] on the Youkon (Kvihpak) - Nulato is a Russian post situated just below the big sharp bend of the Youkon where it turns to flow southward.

I will have here at Ft St Michaels [[strikethrough]] and [[/strikethough]] ^[[an]] abundant supply of provisions etc. Left in charge of a nice old chap named Bean and Bannister as his ^[[nominal]] assistant. These two do not count in my exploring party. Though Bannister comes under my immediate orders. Col Bulkley says I may give Bannister just such orders as I choose - so I can give him a splendid chance. [[strikethough]] It may be that I [[/strikethrough]]

Transcription Notes:
wonder if Ruikpak? could be a bad mispelling of Koyukuk (alternate spelling, obviously); otherwise, this translation looks as right as anything. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koyukuk,_Alaska I believe it is Kvihpak alluded to elsewhere in the correspondence - nwmath