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The body was a dull whitish with a bluish tint. the skin is composed of an outer and easily decomposed layer, beneath which is a hard tough legument [[ligament]] about 1/4 of an inch in thickness. Beneath this is a layer of fat a trifle over an inch in thickness after which the muscles follow.

The vagina and anus [[strikethrough]] of a [[/strikethrough]] have a common orifice which looks like a long slit on each side of the body and very near the mouth of the vagina is the uterus divided into two kidney shaped parts connecting with the common duct. I was unable to learn more of the internal anatomy owing to the intestines being frozen into a hard mass.

Upon my proposing to Alexis to chop the flukes of the tail off with an ax he dissented very strongly and said if he chopped any part of the animal with an ax that he would be die very soon.

This also tallies with a superstition they have that no native is allowed to cut wood with an ax during the season in which they hunt Belugas.

Nov. 18
the remainder of the flesh was removed from the Beluga and it now awaits the finishing process

Transcription Notes:
flukes are tail fins