Viewing page 65 of 184

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Tuesday Sept. 4th 1860.
A Whale! A Whale at last!
There is much rejoicing on board, that the 1st whale has been "struck", made "fast" & towed along side the "George Henry". This rejoicing is participated in by all - from the Captain down to the smallest Sailor boy. Not alone is our Company, for the whole Esquimaux Village join in to make the welkin ring. When my dog team gets a chance at the "Krany", they will [[underlined]] "howl" [[/underlined]], as thankful dogs should!
Last night was fine, wind blowing fresh from the N.W. Capt. B. spoke confidently [[insertion]] last evening [[/insertion]] as to the weather & success we were to have. He felt assured that to-day would be a good Whale day - that the Wind would be N.W. He states to me the result of years of observation in the Whale fishery here North: When whale season comes, [[insertion]] it is [[/insertion]] during [[strikethrough]] the [[/strikethrough]] [[strikethrough]] prevailance of [[/strikethrough]] a N.W. wind that whales are captured - & seldom at any other time. This statement he made [[insertion]] to me [[/insertion]] yesterday. And to-day [[insertion]] is a [[/insertion]] verification [[insertion]] of this [[/insertion]] as far as it goes. 
This morning at 4 o'clk all hands were called. Every countenance was stamped as it were: [[strikethrough]] with [[/strikethrough]] [[underlined]] 'We'll have a whale to-day, sure!' [[/underlined]] There seemed an instinctive confidence that success would crown all efforts in the Whaling line this day! That confidence proved to be well founded. The Season, the wind, the temperature, all in all, bespoke [[insertion]] this [[/insertion]] confidence. 'A capital wind', said Capt. B. - 'We shall have one to-day if ever'. [[strikethrough]] he [[?]] [[/strikethrough]]
At VII Capt. B. cried out 'They are fast! they are fast! I took a look [[insertion]] through my glass [[/insertion]] across the Bay & behold one boat was 'FAST'! Fast [[insertion]] in two ways [[/insertion]] indeed, for it seemed flying over the water at [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] Rail Road Speed! My hair almost stood on end "Like Quills upon an angry porcupine", at the terrible speed the truck whale was propelling this Boat & crew! There, our Four Boats [[insertion]] went [[/insertion]] out this Morning [[searching?]] for whales. The three we could see were fast hastening to aid the one which was fast to the Whale. But Capt. B. who was all 

Transcription Notes:
welkin ring is to make a loud noise