Viewing page 37 of 184

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[margin]]
1860
Wednesday
Aug. 22 
[[/margin]]
'What a glorious supper we've got'! This was a novel sight to me!
'A-bed' among the Esquimaux is [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] ^[[reposing]] [[underlined]] in punis naturalibus, [[/underlined]] between Rein-deer skins (hair on)! Being well enveloped in these heat retaining [[strikethrough]] coverings [[/strikethrough]] skins, they proceede [[underlined]] eating themselves to sleep! [[/underlined]]
Most of the female portion of them now aboard, have really a ^[[beautiful]] ornament upon their heads, consisting of, [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] composition (gold like in appearance) of a bow form, extending from points just forward & below the ears, up over the top of the head. It is one inch wide at its greatest width (which is at the apex of the head) tapering down to 1/2 inch at the extremity. The same is a little rounded, longitudinally. Looks & glistens in the bright sun like burnished gold!
There ^[[are]] two fastenings to this ornament - a string of variously colored beads going under the chin, as a bonnet tie, also, one looping down behind the ears at the back of neck & head. The following will give an idea of the way this adjunct to female ornamentation ^[[here]] is worn.
It struck me that this is not only a beautiful ornament to these people (the female portion) but would be ^[[so]] to the ladies of the States.
These natives now with us are on their way to Neu-yum-mi-ooke where the George Henry is. Many of them are those with whom Capt. Budington is acquainted or whom he expects to employ in whaling.
This evening, I conversed with Kok-er-zhuu, (the ^[[older daughter of]] departed Cudlarqo) [[strikethrough]] older daughter [[/strikethrough]], about her fathers death. She was deeply interested as I told her that almost every day, at Sea, after leaving New London, [[strikethrough]] He came in [[/strikethrough]] Cudlarqo came into my room & sat down by my side, just as she then was, talking with me & learning from me to talk American & I learning from him Esquimaux.
I was surprised to find Kok-er-zhuu an intelligent - I may say - accomplished lady. It is true she is Esquimaux, yet her demeanor was entirely ^[[retiring &]] lady like. She understands many words of the American language & is deeply solicitous of acquiring [[strikethrough]] full [[/strikethrough]] a ^[[full]] knowledge ^