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1861 Fri Jan 25 the oldest Innuit of the regions now at the lower village of Rescue Harbor told Ebierbing that she had a curious dream & that she was certain she should never see any of us more. The truth has already been told: All supposed us gone - gone forever! But thank God, we are yet alive & safe! This fact is now gladdening the hearts of our friends as well as giving joy to him who now records these lines. By reference to my journal (of 13th & 14th Inst) it will be seen that our escape [[underlined]] Was Providential! [[/underlined]] Relative to the ever to be cherished letter of my friend Budington, I will incorporate here his closing sentence: 'So long, Mr. Hall, your old Friend' S.O. Budington' How deeply into my heart burned each of these glowing words! Memory will cling to them - & [[underlined]] him, [[/underlined]] the esteemed author, so long as my heart throbs! Ebierbing related to me various incidents of the awful exposures of his Innuit friends who have at various times been swept away from communication with nuna (land) on the Seko (Sea-ice) when little prepared or expecting it. Last Winter, "Sampson" (the big "Husky" of the upper Village of Rescue [[strikethrough]] Harbor [[/strikethrough]] Bay, one of my acquaintances) & several other Innuits, were out on the ice Walrus hunting in Frobisher Bay when it commenced moving Sea ward - Escape was impossible. On - On the ice moved. The despairing Innuits erected an Igloo on the ice & in this most of the time awaited their fate. At last (end of 30 days [[strikethrough]] the field of ice on wh. they were, ceased to move thin ice formed [[/strikethrough]] not a thing to eat but 2 dogs), However The field of ice on wh. they were [[strikethrough]] at length [[/strikethrough]] ceased to move. Thin ice formed the 1st night sufficient to support them in travelling with quick & light steps over the green ice uniting the field ice with an Island in Frobisher Bay! [[end page]] [[start page]] 1861 Fri Jan 25 During the 30 days not a thing to eat but the 2 dogs already alluded to. Sharkey ([[space]] ) & Dick ([[space]] ) were of the party, both Innuits now at the lower village, "Rescue Bay". All the "Husky's" of the place, exceeding 15 in number were thus cast away. One Innuit fell from weakness into the Sea, was taken out his clothes stiff with ice - he survived. All escaped & returned to their families though reduced in flesh - some so much as to be almost unrecognizable by their own wives. Another incident: A few years ago, a party of Innuits was out on the Sea ice Walrus - hunting (also in Frobisher Bay) when it became detached from the land. For three months were adrift before they were rescued. In this time captured Walrus thus living with plenty Not a winter passes but incidents of this character take place among these daring Innuits. Capt. B's letter informs me that the natives of Rescue Bay have not captured a Seal since our leaving them notwithstanding on the day preceeding the one on wh. the letter was written the "Huskys" were all out for 16 hours Sealing on the new ice (formed since the gale that came near being our destruction). It also informs me that Sterry 'returned from Frobisher Bay the night of the 20th - that he had near starved to death - had to eat his Kum-mings (native boots) but that at the last call the natives caught a Walrus & all was forgotten while in the land of plenty - that Sterry was about to return to Frobisher Bay the next day, the 24th'. This eve I stepped out a few minutes & returned with [[strikethrough]] frozen [[/strikethrough]] frost-bitten fingers & thumbs. They were at once seized, one hand by Ebierbing & the other by Tuk-oo-li-too, & held within theirs until they were restored. I know not whether I have stated this fact or not as in the following: Tuk-oo-li-too severed the profuse, elongated hair of my caput on the day we were confined within our Igloo by the gale of the 12th. Soon as we vacated said snow house, wh. was on Sunday ([[symbol: cross]]) Morning, the dogs rushed [[underlined]] "pell mell" [[/underlined]] as it is used with them on such occasions, into it drowning whatever morsels or material [[underlined]] digestible or not digestible, [[/underlined]] may be found. My locks were to line a dog's stomach! What would have been my pride
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Reviewed. Corrected.
