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1861 Saturday Jan 12th

to that pile of Whiskers!
Ebierbing has just been out (IV oclock PM)  He reports the astounding news that water appears South of our Igloo only 10 Rods - the ice having opened & moved a short distance.  The crack or opening runs E & W. extending westerly to nunar (land) distant 3 miles.  This shows that the gale of to-day & last night from the E. has set the Sea a heaving thus breaking up the ice all around us! & that if this should shift to the N. or N.W & away [[strikethrough]] to [[/strikethrough]] Sea ward we must go:  A discussion [[underlined]] of a most serious character [[/underlined]] has just taken place between my self & Ebierbing.

What is the best to do?  Remain in our Igloo or hasten to the mountains for nothing else of [[underlined]] terra - firma [[/underlined]] is to be found in these regions.  We decide to remain trusting to Him Who overrules all!

As a precaution I keep at my head my delicately poised needle firmly fixed, that the least shifting of the ice on which we are 'Iglooed', will be truthfully indicated.  The Gale abated somewhat at IV this Eve.  Now X o'clock night there is a calm.  The heavy sea however, keeps the ice creaking, screaming [[underlined]] thundering [[/underlined]] as it dances to & fro!  I retire believing that whatever is to follow will be for the best.

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[[symbol: cross]] Jan 13th 1861
("Budington Bay")
Fourth Night In an Igloo!

This morning, Kood-loo arose & made an opening through the dome of the Igloo with the Cheving (Snow-Knife) for peering at the weather - He reported: 'all Clear'!  Tuk-oo-li-too at once raised up in bed (wh. is just by the cooking department) & set the Ik-Ku-mer (Fire Lamp) in blaze & suspended over it the kettle of snow-water wh. had been made by the moderate burning of the lamp through the night, preparatory to having a good drink all around of hot coffee.  We made our breakfast upon Raw Salt Pork (from Cincinnati!) Sea-biscuit (1/2 to each) & Coffee.  My small allotment is a-going fast, but I am sure deserving ones have it.

Breakfast through, the Kum-mi-ti (Sledge) iced, we commenced re-packing.  It was evident a hard day's work - & that be on the Lord's Day - was ahead of us.

[[underlined]] Circumstances oblige us to hasten from our position!  The ice has given away & is on the move in every direction! [[/underlined]]

The snow we find deep - knee & thigh deep. 
Poor dogs - they are nearly starved - have had nothing to eat since starting & but little before!  I once thought when in the States that dogs were on whole of less assistance in travelling than was compensated by the care for them & their trouble.  I now [[underlined]] know [[/underlined]] otherwise.  They do more work on less food than any draught animal of the World.  I do believe indeed to the Innuits or any one travelling here North in the Winter season, [[underlined]] dogs are indispensible! [[/underlined]]  During the day, we have assisted the dogs much by pushing & hauling on the 

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