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1861 Thursday Jan 8th

my encircling hands.

During the day my Tuk-too stockings had become damp from perspiration, therefore my feet last night were nearly frozen.  Every few minutes I was necessitated to jump & thrash myself - [[strikethrough]] to [[/strikethrough]] do anything that I could to keep my limbs from frost-bites.

How intently I watched each change in Nukerton!  One, two, three, four, five, six, seven in slow speech did I count the [[strikethrough]] in breaths [[/strikethrough]] interim of her breathings.  Then increasing to even double that number.  The inspirations were quick & uniform from the time I 1st saw N to her death but her respirations were short, & also prolonged, irregular.  One hour before she died I counted as high as 19!  13 & 15 were not infrequent.  At length N ceased to live.  I exclaimed:  'She's dead receive back her spirit I pray Thee God for she is Thine!'

I placed the lamp before her face, she breathed not.  Scene within that Igloo!  her dishevelled hair matted & filled with Tuk-too hair - Her head opposite the Fire lamp at her right on entrance to the Igloo.  My position seated on the platform of snow by her my left hand with extended arm on her forehead - in my right the lamp holding it over her face & she about bidding farewell to Earth.  My call of 'Nuk-er-ton, Nuk-er-ton!  No response tho' once seemed to make the effort.  The smile that stole over her face just before death.  Ther. [[strikethrough]] this [[/strikethrough]] last night 58[[degree symbol]] below freezing point!  When all was wrapt in Death's silence, I left to call Kood-loo her cousin - his Igloo next to Ebierbing's 
Here found "Blind George" mated with some woman Innuit.  Kood-loo awakes arises & accompanies to N. Igloo.  No one I found would lend a helping hand - no one would touch the dead.  Finding N's corpse was drawn up within a short compass I determined to lay her out myself

Kood-loo would do nothing but hold the lamp

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1861 Tuesday Jan 8

I alone performed the act of laying her out.  The Horrible, disgusting scene!  The neglect of the Innuit people to take care of their sick!  I placed her upon a snow bed,  crossed her hands upon her breast - closed her lips placed lumps of the pure snows of Heaven upon her eye-lids & her head upon a snow pillow! & then left for the vessel having 1st taken the precaution of sealing up the Igloo to prevent the dogs from eating up the corpse.  In the morning found that according to Innuit custom the Igloo in wh. Nukenton died was the tomb for her remains - that my last acts were the final burial.  Nukerton died at 3 this morning I arrived at the vessel 20 minutes after.  Did not retire at all.  The earnest proposition of mine last eve to have N. brought aboard 
For precedent opened Parry's narrative of 2d voyage & read 2 or 3 pages

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Que-jes-se, I find, returned last night from Frobisher Bay - had much trouble in getting there - broke the sledge into many pieces in returning.  The dogs devoured the draught lines of the harnesses (e-pu-e-ten)  The report brought back by Que-jes-se is unfavorable - so much so that Capt Budington thinks it quite injudicious to direct my steps
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& that of any more of my party in that direction.  No seals are being caught there.  Evidently much suffering is to be experienced by those who prolong their stay there.  Walrus have not yet appeared.  Provision of An-ne-wa given out.  I therefore conclude, on a protracted conference with Capt B. to start as soon as possible for Oo-kood-lear ("Budington Bay")  Hope to be able to leave by Thursday next.  "Ugarny" 

Transcription Notes:
Reviewed. Corrected for incorrect insertion designation, irrelevant strikethroughs etc.