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1861 - Jan 8th Tuesday

same to her winga (husband) who immediately ran with all haste to send her here.  A few moments [[strikethrough]] brought [[/strikethrough]] found Tuk-oo-li-too [[strikethrough]] by [[/strikethrough]] in the presence of the dying.

No call from even her [[strikethrough]] was [[/strikethrough]] familiar voice, could arouse a recognition from the one who was now about to depart.  Alas, [[underlined]] for us [[/underlined]] ]] for Nukerton was surely
on her way to the land of spirits.  Tuk-oo-li-too remaining here as long as was required & finding the change going on with Nuk-er-ton was by slow degrees, returned to her Igloo, leaving me & Kood-loo, the cousin, with Nuk-er-ton.  In one [[strikethrough]] an [[/strikethrough]] hour I left Kood-loo alone in charge & stepped over to Ebierbings for a few moments (Cincinnati soup" here every night - & capital it is too not only to starving Esquimaux but to any body who has an appetite for good, nutritious food.  Although I am fond of it, yet I cannot more than taste while I know these my friends need it all:)  Spent a short time here.  I then requested that Ebierbing should retire & I would bathe his effected back & side & chafe them in so doing.  [[strikethrough]] It [[/strikethrough]]  As I perceived the nodding head of Tuk-oo-li-too I told her she better retire too that I would give her ample chance by turning my head toward Suzhy's Lamp & placing myself beside her (S).  A few moments & my children were sandwiched between the beautiful fur of the Tuk-too.  The liniment to which I have alluded, & [[strikethrough]] its [[/strikethrough]] my application of it, it gave my patient relief.  Bidding all: 'Ti-bon-e-tit' my lantern in hand I bent my steps to Nuk-er-ton's.  What was my astonishment when I found the Igloo sealed up - blocks of snow [[strikethrough]] pilled [[/strikethrough]] placed firmly in & around the entrance way.  It told me Nukerton was dead!  I had but a short time before learned it to be the usual custom among the Innuits when a poor

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1861 Jan 8 Tuesday

person is about dying, for all to retire from the Igloo or Tupik, which ever it might be, & not return to it.

It might as well be here stated [[strikethrough]] that [[/strikethrough]] what occured in Nukerton's Igloo on the arrival of my valuable & esteemed friend Tuk-oo-li-too when her winga (husband) informed her of the dying condition of N.

[[strikethrough]] It [[/strikethrough]] To my mind the incident goes to show how strongly are fixed among any people, [[underlined]] customs, [[/underlined]] however absurd, they may appear to others.

Tuk-oo-li-too, on arriving last evening, proceeded to examine Nukerton's condition, feeling her pulse listening to her breathings [[strikethrough]] & seeing [[/strikethrough]] watching her every motion.  [[underlined]] Too true [[/underlined]] indeed did she find what I had said.  Tuk-oo-li-too gently spoke words that astonished me - astonished me because they
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come from her, one who is not only conversant with my vernacular but with the belief & practices of Civilization.  She said: Nuk-er-ton was dying & that we must all retire at once - that if we delayed till N's death, the clothes we had on would never do to be put [[strikethrough]] then [[/strikethrough]] on again.
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This was spoken with [[underlined]] an earnestness [[/underlined]] that wanted no guarantee of her [[underlined]] firm belief [[/underlined]] in what she said.  Under the circumstances, I had no hesitancy as to my course, [[underlined]] then & there! [[/underlined]]  I knew she had confidence in me - that she knew that I always treated her people as well as I could my own - that she knew I never endeavored to cast a slur or make light of any of the customs of her country.  Therefore I said:  Tuk-oo-li-too listen to [[underlined]] wonga [[/underlined]] (me) a moment.  'On Christmas Day I gave you a Good Book - the Bible.  [[underlined]] That Book is the Word of God. [[/underlined]]  It tells you & me - every body - to visit the sick - the afflicted - the widow - the helpless the poor

Kindly I proceeded to the best of my poor ability to show her whenever it was recorded thus to leave the sick - the dying.  Her astonishment

Transcription Notes:
Reviewed. Corrected for incorrect insertion designation, irrelevant strikethroughs & other transcription errors.