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1861 [[symbol: cross]] Jan 20

The Innuit driver, Kood-loo, began to show signs of giving it up.  There were combined circumstances against us.  Prominent among them were the almost starved dogs - the almost uniform deep [[strikethrough]] soft [[/strikethrough]] light snow covering the ice of the Bay - the almost prostration of myself from weakness far exceeding [[strikethrough]] as [[/strikethrough]] what I had anticipated.  But with all these, I could not think of giving it up so.

We moved on - plodding as best we could.  Two other miles were made by 11 oclock AM.  I had led the way for the dogs but now & then, I was obliged throw myself, utterly exhausted, on to the sledge. I  was astonished to find myself in the condition I am: "Weak as a child!"  What could I do?  What could the matter be?  Was I sick?  These questions came thoughtfully to my mind.  Sick? No!  I reflected a few moments & the truth stared me like a wolf in the face!  I too was on the verge of starvation! - had stinted myself in food since leaving the vessel that others who were around me & in bad plight as to food [[underlined]] might live! [[/underlined]]  I had not [[underlined]] suffered [[/underlined]] with hunger to a considerable degree - but really my system demanded more food to keep it up.

After repeated trials, I found I could not advance further unless I could ride & this could not be as the dogs could but drag the sledge & that very slowly.  Here was a fix!  What was best to be done?  From the ill success of the natives sealing here, the snow deeply covering the seal holes, I could not think of living longer upon their generous dispositions that I should share in the small pittance of their failing supply.  

At first, I thought perhaps we had better return that Koo-loo & Ebierbing might seal a day or two & if successful then for the former to again make the attempt to perform the trip.  Turning my glass toward the Igloos we had left 4 hours before, I had the satisfaction of seeing Ebierbing & Ugarny on their way toward us.  I decided to consult them what it best to do.  They were on snow shoes wh. admitted of greater progress than ours had been.  When they came up, after consulting the matter, it was decided that Ebierbing proceede with Kood-loo to the vessel,

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1861 [[symbol: cross]] Jan 20

& that after feeding up the dogs (spending but one day at the vessel) to return with the provision I had ordered by letter, with despatch.  I was unwilling to accept the noble of my Innuit friend, Ebierbing, from these facts.  Seal provision was all gone - all but a little remaining blood for Soup - & the Ook-sook (seal blubber for the fire lamp) was nearly exhausted.  I felt that Tuk-oo-li-too would be in a still worse condition for the sacrifice of his (E's) time & services for himself & hers.  But E generously - nobly said:  'You (meaning me) cannot go.  You have made yourself weak from your generosity to others - I will go! - & return as quick as possible!  I had the letter with me that I had written to Capt B. intending to send it by Koodloo.  A long letter it was (7 pages) containing a history of all matters transpiring since leaving the vessel etc.  There was one blank page - So I sat my self down on the fore part of the Kum-mi-ti & filled it up by a statement of the surprising facts, dating the [[strikethrough]] time [[/strikethrough]] P.S.: 'Sunday Morning Jan 20 1861 11 oclock AM Out in Budington Bay.  I wrote the page of facts with the paper laying on the upturned bottom of the mutton meat can viced between my knees.  Having completed this letter I gave it to Ebierbing.  A few moments now were only required to get all in readiness.  Away they started Ebierbing leading the way on Snow-Shoes while I with my carpet sack & sleeping bag struggled Igloo-Ward.  Every few rods I was obliged to throw myself prostrate from the too great exertion I had made during the morning.  I should have stated this in its proper place that on finding myself so astonishingly weak I opened my carpet sack & took out the meat can containing the frozen "Preserved Mutton" & with a Snow Knife cut out piece after piece giving alternate ones to Kood-loo.  But this was not in time to save me - to give me strength.  I experienced no immediate good effects from it.

I had got one half way

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