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1861 [[symbol: cross]] Jan 13th sledge. We have taken turns in leading off that is in one proceeding ahead to select the best track for the dogs among the hummocky ice. Every little distance [[strikethrough]] is [[/strikethrough]] gained, we came to openings in the ice made by gale & heaving sea. How thankful to God that He has spared us again for other work. These openings were often so wide that only the considerable length of my sledge allowed us to bridge them. At other places, we had to overcome high heaved ice that crossed our course made thus by the tremendous power of the storm - driving fields of ice one against another. Had the wind changed to the North or Westward nothing could have saved the ice & us from being driven out to Sea! 'God be praised' often I exclaimed as we advanced over the dangerous passage we have made! Near & nearer we drew to the place of our destination. But from the deep snow - the slowness of our progress, it began to be doubtful of our reaching it this day - the fourth since leaving the vessel. By two o'clock P.M. it seemed as if we were all about to fail in making farther effort to-day, so fatigued were we. I deemed it prudent, aye necessary to halt awhile resting ourselves & the poor dogs as well as to refreshen my company with a trifle of the small amount of my provision left. I gave to each a slice of raw salt pork & 1/4 to each of a Sea-biscuit. New life - renewed strength were the results. Onward we went - plodding - pushing & hauling. An hour after Sun-Set, we made in the distance Ugarny's Igloo & that of Jack's wh. we sought & whom we expected to locate ours. This made us feel that we were near home so we actually rushed on (it was only seemingly so). As we approached, our passage was more & more obstructed by the broken upturned ice. Often the Sledge was leaping ice point to ice point, then tipping almost perpendicular. At length we reached & mounted the shore ice & "found all safe & sound" here on the S.W. side of Roger's Island overlooking "Budington [[end page]] [[start page]] 1861 [[symbol: cross]] Jan 13th Bay; & the mountains [[strikethrough]] partly [[/strikethrough]] nearly surrounding it. Ebierbing proceeded at once to "prospect" with his Oo-nar (Seal-Spear) the snow preparatory to erecting an Igloo. He found it pe-on-e-took (bad). I turned my steps quickly into the Igloo of Ugarny to see [[strikethrough]] the [[/strikethrough]] my old friend - but more especially for Water for I was parched with thirst. I may here state that on our way up I as well as the Innuits have suffered terribly for water. The material around us - beneath our feet - here there everywhere which to make it yet almost dying for want of even a few drops of the liquid! Nik-u-jun, Ugar's family wife No 1, welcomed me [[underlined]] warmly [[/underlined]] with her hand & heart - [[underlined]] Cooly [[/underlined]] with an overflowing cup of cold water! What thought I of this reception - generous Welcoming? Did not my brain almost run wild as I reflected how the same woman once came to me on the Oo-mi-er (vessel) with her infant (Me-noun) at her back asking for Water? Then it was that the vessel was supplied by boating it some three miles about the opening of the Winter. Soon in came Tuk-oo-li-too who was also supplied with the same thirst quenching material. I carried out a quart of it to Ebierbing who drank it all in quick time. Water is precious among the natives in Winter being made only by melting snow or ice over the Ik-ku-mer (Fire lamp) which is an expensive heat & light. While E. & Koodloo [[strikethrough]] was [[/strikethrough]] were sawing out snow blocks, Tuk-oo-li-too & I unladened the sledge, carrying everything up the rise leading to the spot where we are now Iglooed. This done, I went to work assisting Ebierbing in erecting the Igloo. It was dark before we finished it. While at work upon it Ugarny with his nuliana Kunnia, wife No 2, came in from Sealing having with them a Seal wh. was drawn by their Seal hole hunting dog - This sight was cheering
Transcription Notes:
Reviewed. Corrected for incorrect insertion designation, irrelevant strikethroughs etc.
