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[[underlined across double page]] Sun July 22/60 [[/underlined]] [[left page]] Taking 2 sea biscuit well smeared with golden Butter, we left "George Henry" : 'Await our return'. The boys put us quickly on the rocks & returned to the ship, while Smith & I tramped on. Up rocky mountain & down rocky mountain we went till away sea-ward we saw Plains. To them we bent our steps. A hundred years ago & where we stood was a settlement. Into the enclosure of what appeared to [strikethrough] be [/strikethrough] have been once an aristocratic domicil we entered The ^[[insertion]] walls [[/insertion]] were about 5 feet high, 3 feet thick & made of broken stones laid in turf - at the west end [[strikethrough]] of [[/strikethrough]] were a table & benches at each side & one end. Upon one of the benches ˄[[insertion]] were [[/insertion]] engraved [[strikethrough]] upon [[/strikethrough]] with the Knife, the words CANE- [[strikethrough]] & [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] BOX' [[strikethrough] [[?]] [[/strikethrough. Had it been '[[underlined]] K [[/underlined]] ane, certainly would I have concluded that Dr Kane visited the spot when in Holsteinborg in 1851 then everyone of the 1st Grinnell Ex in search of Sir John Franklin who had put in here on its way to the Station. Here was a chance for Smith - [[insertion]] one of [[/insertion]] the men of "Six Skillings the lb. Tobacco." [[end page]] [[start page]] notoriety, & my humble self to carve our names upon the tablet of Fame! In the presence of thousands of Greenlanders (who ^ [[insertion]] by the way [[/insertion]] were [[strikethrough]] indeed [[/strikethrough]] very [[underlined]] impertinent [[/underlined]], presenting their [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] [[insertion]] Bills [[/insertion]] even into our very faces. [[strikethrough]] & that had [[/strikethrough]] on Sunday-) we proceeded to the use of Jack-Knives. Before I had completed "[[underlined]] C.F. Hall 1860 [[/underlined]]" I had slain scores of those Greenlanders, many of them gloated by my hearts blood. Smith probably was not second to me in his destructive sweeps of his broad hand among the e˄[[insertion]] n [[/insertion]]emy around. I never was more forcibly- I may say [[underlined]] pointedly [[/underlined]]- reminded of "the pursuit of Knowledge under difficulties" than yesterday- Smith wanted [[underlined]] to know [[/underlined]] how much of the Artist was in him, so with me. Musquitos wanted [[underlined]] to know [[/underlined]] how much poor Smith & poor Hall could endure [[strikethrough]] torment? [[/strikethrough]] of their incessant sucks for Blood! Smith was confounded - was thrown into confusion [[?]] confounded by the increase of numbers & ferocity - He battered this and he battered that - I saw his desperation and resolution. My wish was to leave the place - but Smith was maddened by the idea that a man particularly - [[strikethrough]] I suppose [[/strikethrough]] of the family of Smiths could not be allowed to carve his name on [[strikethrough]] the [[/strikethrough]] Greenland's icy mountains Smith resolved with an oath that he would finish his name "if all the musquitos of h - l came to Greenland. Seeing Smith's pluck, gave me courage. Theres nothing like a brave leader in Battle! So into carving I went. My work was soon done. [[strikethrough]] & dedicated [[/strikethrough]] Every stroke had been followed by [[strikethrough]] [[?]] to [[/strikethrough]] drops of Blood from my veins. I I knew not how many feasts had been gained ^[[insertion]] to the Greenlanders [[/insertion]] by this work of mine. [[strikethrough]] It [[/strikethrough]] My work was done save the [[underlined]] scratching -part [[/underlined]] Smith was yet hard at work - 1st he would put a stroke on his name & then would strike at Musquitos. "Confounded" I have said. So he was - & almost dumfounded for. I asked Smith what he was about: calling his attention to the palpable work of ruin he was doing to his own name & character. He had engraved or cut this far & of this order "RoBEBT SNITH" said I '[[underlined]] Smith! Smith!! Smith!!!'[[/underlined]] - Smith turned pale -
Transcription Notes:
"Six Skillings the lb. Tobacco." this refers to an earlier venture with Smith and the Esquimaux.
