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1860 Saturday Dec 1st

Shortly after he raised the cry a Whale! a Whale!  It proved shortly to be a school of White Whales.  The natives dropped a Whale Boat from the G.H. & by sharp management got her outside of the ice where they gave chase not only to White Whales but to various Walrus.  Their efforts were unrewarded - they got nothing.  The truth is, the male portion of the Esquimaux about here do not put forth [[underlined]] manly [[/underlined]] efforts to secure provision for their suffering, [[underlined]] starving [[/underlined]] wives & children.  And I fear they will not so long as they can get their own stomachs supplied from the tables of the George Henry.  It is indeed against the natives that the season remains so open, but then, if they would but [[underlined]] persevere [[/underlined]] - keep doing something towards Sealing & Walrus chasing, their families would not now be as [[underlined]] sadly [[/underlined]] off as they now are.

How these hardy, hearty, lusty fellows can put on the face to come aboard so regularly, twice a day (these short days we have but two meals) as they do, & then lay back & take their ease, the cry of Want ringing in their ears, I cannot see!  So so goes the World.

This is the 1st day of December.  It might well be called the [[underlined]] "Day of a Great Calm" [[/underlined]] for not a ripple about us - not the slightest noticeable movement of the air has taken place to-day.  Thermometer has stood 29° to 30° through the day.  The ice which drifted this Morn a little way by the tide, has partially returned. Such pranks - fantastic tricks as the ice has played in the "Rescue Bay" & "Rescue

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1860 Saturday Dec 1st

Harbor", this season needs to be commemorated.

Seals were seen popping up their heads here & there among the ice openings near us to-day.

The "George Henry" is again swinging to her chains.  Ere I left the States I formed an opinion from certain facts that this would be a comparative mild Winter North.  So far indeed it has been so.  I await to make record of the remainder of it.

The weather is gloomy - to those who are so themselves.  The sky is shut out from view by impervious clouds.  Considerable fog has been hanging over the waters to-day.  

To-morrow - The Sabbath.  May I spend it as I ought.  God can as well be worshipped here as anywhere.  Though I am far away from my State's friends & loved ones, yet I am as near Heaven here as at home.  It may be one of the decrees of the All Wise One that I shall never return - that my dust shall yet be mingled with the crystal ices & snows of the North.  Grant me this prayer, O, God, that I may meet with all dear ones in Thy Courts above.

IX o'clock, night Bar 30.175 Ther 27°.  No wind - perfectly calm as through the day.

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