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[[left margin boxed]] [[underlined]] 1860 [[/underlined]] Oct 10th Saturday [[/left margin boxed]] We worked pleasantly, & strongly together [[strikethrough]] making [[/strikethrough]] bending the oar into an arch at every pull. Behind us was the ^[[old]] giantess of the North plying faithfully & measuredly the harponeer oar. So faithful has this good lady been in her days, that her teeth, tho' all perfectly sound, are worn down [[underlined]] even with the gums, [[/underlined]] by chewing skins for making Boots, mittens etc! The teeth are double - called "double teeth" - all around. When we came within 1/8 of a mile of the village, found the boat [[strikethrough]] ^[[ [[?]] [[?]] ]] "dead-set" by the ice. The Esquimaux crew appeared inclined to give it up - "Stern to" & "round about" for home. But this I was determined should not be. By patience and perserverance, we finally conquered, cutting a channel through the ice, sufficient to admit the Boat, clear up to ^[[the]] very village. Our procedure was watched by the whole town who were out on the banks to welcome us. Esquimaux take time coolly! [[strikethrough]] therefore [[/strikethrough]] Before commencing operations, [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] my company had to make general calls on their friends of the tupiks. Of course [[underlined]] I done the same. [[/underlined]] In my rounds, met poor "Blind George", whom I found quite happy, having his own idol child, [[strikethrough]] by his side [[/strikethrough]] - little Kook-Koor-yer, ^[[close]] by his side. "George" knew me by my voice ^[[& [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] ]] instantly called me by name. Whenever called, the Esquimaux was [[strikethrough]] feasted [[/strikethrough]] feasting ^[[on]] [[strikethrough]] of [[/strikethrough]] frozen Whale (-"Krany"-) eating it [[underlined]] raw. [[/underlined]] I could not be so unthankful to the generous friends [[strikethrough]] I found [[?]] refuse [[/strikethrough]] who uniformly invited me to participate, as to refuse! I therefore eat abundantly of frozen Whale! Let them who ^[[will]] [[strikethrough]] many [[/strikethrough]] ^[[ [[underlined]] think [[/underlined]] ]] evil of it - one thing is certain, [[underlined]] neither my conscience [[/underlined]] or - [[underlined]] Stomach [[/underlined]] condemned the deed! The fact is, to effect the purpose I have [[strikethrough]] in [[/strikethrough]] at heart - to carry out successfully what I have undertaken to perform - to visit King Williams Land - & lands adjacent - to continue & complete the History of Sir John Franklin & his renowned Expedition, [[underlined]] I must learn to live as Esquimaux do! [[/underlined]] To carry out this Mission, [[underlined]] I shall "eat to live", [[/underlined]] discarding altogether the ^[[too common]] idea - at least for three years - of "living to eat"! An hour was spent in visiting & eating Succeeding this, with my company of Esquimaux & a considerable portion of the inhabitants of the village proceeded to fresh water pond. Arriving there, a dilemma! No Axe had been brought from the vessel with which to cut the ice. The natives simply [[strikethrough]] kept [[/strikethrough]] ^[[keep]] a [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] needle-size hold open, through which enough water [[strikethrough]] oozed [[/strikethrough]] oozes to ^[[supply]] themselves, a dipper full at a time. This would not do for white man, consequently it remained for an ice-well to be made. But the ice-cutting! what was to be done for one? To return to the vessel would consume the day - Ere many minutes were consumed in contemplating what to do, Shoo-Kong (Charley) came running over the hill with a seal-spear in his hand. One end of this [[strikethrough]] was [[/strikethrough]] had an iron point about 4 ^[[inches long]] [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] The point with which ice is cut is called Toong Oo-nar Ia-loo Too ng - the long ^[[iron]] rod with which Seals are speared "Ig-loo" - altogether (all its parts) "Oo-nar". Shoo-Kong taking hold of the larger part ^[[(which is wood)]] of this Oo-nar [[strikethrough]] which [[/strikethrough]] with [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] ^[[his]] right hand, proceeded to strike home telling blows, making Seko (ice) fly in crystal showers. A few minutes found a Well-hole through the ice (which was 20 inches thick) demonstration that Esquimaux are quite equal to any emergencies. The Oo-nar proved an excellent instrument. Buckets were now filled & carried to the Boat. Many a round did it take to fill that ^[[little-mouthed, big=[[?]] ]] cask. I fell in to line, working side by side - line in line - with these Iron Sons of the Frigid North. I was, in the midst of this people, numbering in all, perhaps sixty souls (village & my crew) & not another White man about! some of [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] ^[[my]] states'
