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Thursday Nov 15 1860
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do you sppose you will find that whale in the morning?
Probably I shall find it, if I find him at all, in the hole [[strikethrough]] he [[/strikethrough]] where he comes up! Though [[any?]] [[strikethrough]] to [[/strikethrough]] the reply yet, for this very reason it told with telling effect upon all who heard Smith, so [[underline]] earnest [[/underline]] & [[excited?]] was he! Lamb springing for his hat said: "As long as there are any signs for whales, I'm around." All hands were soon on deck, fore & aft, listening for the Whale-blow Smith said Lamb was up on the bits for the night so he could [[underline]] haunt [[/underline]] the whale - but it was not heard again, so one after another went below, turning in for the night preparing to be out as soon as light. One fellow, as he jumped into his birth, cried out: So here go flukes? A lusty Esquimaux [[strikethrough]] has been [[/strikethrough]] aboard to-day who has been to "Iletu Incognitu", (Esquimaux - "Kingaite") to the south side of it (that is up N. side Hudson Strait [[strikethrough]] N side [[/strikethrough]]) From his description has been as far as [[underline]] the blank [[/underline]] in Parry's Chart of 1821-3 between Long. 73[[degree sign]] & 75[[degree sign]]W. [[underline]] where is excellent Whaling ground [[/underline]] early in the spring before ice breaks. I doubt not a considerable Bay exists there penetrating Northerly [[strikethrough]] for many [[/strikethrough]] miles, making a good retreat for Whales. I am satisfied of this fact from various great travellers among the Esquimax whom I have met who all agree that not only whales, but Walrus, seals Narwals Ducks & other sea fowl are to be found there in abundance. Also on the lands adjoining Rein-deer, Rabbits, Foxes, Polar Bears etc in large numbers. The Esquimax to whom I allude as having been aboard to day a few years since captured two small Whales in said Bay in one Season with the assistance of only a boy. The capturing of Whales by esquimax is successfully practiced. They move up to the whale or near him in their Kay-ak throwing a rude harpoon into him. This harpoon is attached to [[strikethrough]] ?? [[/strikethrough]] a long line of Seal or [[walring?]] skin which has fast to its extremity several drugs (which are Seal skins filled with air looking like mammouth bladders) The whales of course dive perpendicular as they usually do when 1st [[strikethrough]] attach that [[/strikethrough]] [[actacted?]] - Soon as the whole length of line is run out then the strain commences on the drugs which of course are drawn under. But their continual bouyancy soon wearies the Whale. He comes up to get a [[genurtion?]] of fresh air which he gets - but not that alone but general a lance into his liver well directed by the courageous & experienced Esquimaux.
A few years ago, the natives of Greenland captured in their Ky-aks by means of [[strikethrough]] drugs [[/strikethrough]] the Drugs the very largest of the Mystecetus making 300 barrels oil. At Oo-Kood-lean when Whalers 1st visited that harbor they found [[strikethrough]] innuit [[/strikethrough]] innumerable evidences of the large numbers of Whales the Natives had captured years gone by.
The Weather is very mild - [[underline]] for the Latitude & time of year [[/underline]] - remarkably so! At 1X 1/2 O'clock to-night, Thermometer 27[[degree sign]], Bar. 29'425 Calm & Cloudy. Capt. Budington remarks, as his eye glances over this lilliputian [[Blanke?]]: -- 'Well Hall, this [[strikethrough]] is the [[/strikethrough]] the [[underline]] end [[/underline]] [[strikethrough]] of it [[/strikethrough]] is it? Another Book ready to Bag'! Aye, Aye, Sir --- "End" of Book III. [[underline]] Ba'g it B. [[strikethrough]]?[[/strikethrough]] if you please!