Viewing page 164 of 309
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
1861 + [[Sunday]] Feb. 17th In less than 10 minutes U. fired twice but unfortunately each time over shot the game. Jack with his "double barrell shot" had proceeded N. side of this open water. Ugarny having made 2 trials & failing he desired I should try my hand. The rifle reloaded, I took my position while U. took his "double barrel shot" & went over to Oo-Kood-lear Island some 50 rods off to the W. to hunt Rabbits. I remained some 4 hours behind said breast work. Ther. 25° minus wind blowing fresh down the channel wh. extended N. In that time three seals popped up their heads & quickly popped them down again. So in that time did not get a shot. Jack fired at one from his side almost direct to my position. I heard the ball skipping along near me & thought him incautious. Going out Ugarny took me to a deposite of two seals beneath a snow heap wh U. shot yesterday with my Rifle. This was the 1st information of this good News! So it appears Ebierbing shot 6 seals (lost 2) & Ugarny has shot three (3) making seven secured, all from having my Rifle. Upwards of 1/2 ton fresh meat provision on hand more than if my Rifle had not been used. I am thankful it proves so serviceable. This deposit was soon smelt out by seal dog "Smile" as will soon appear. Having remained out till 12 (Noon) & feeling very cold, I left for the Igloo where during my warming up, Kunnia gave me an excellent repast on raw frozen Seal - Seal liver! Liver - Seal's liver is fine eating. Of course partaken raw with Innuit Butter - a small bit of Ook-gook (from the back) to each mouthful (of liver). It was one O'Clk PM when I started out again to resume my position behind breast work. On my way out met U. & Jack coming in, the former having in one hand a fine "Oo-Kood-lear" (Rabbit) wh. he had shot on the Island named after said animal Kind. They said it ws no use to make further trials of the Seals at present so I returned with them they having my rifle & ammunition bag. We had not long been in, before I was out on the outside again. I saw the dogs were all off, & suspecting what was up called to Kunnia for my glass. With it I descried that they had opened up the Seal deposite & were evidently discussing merits of fresh Seal for starved dogs! I called to Ugarny telling him what was going on. He desired that I & Jack should go out & dig up Seal & drag them to the Igloo. Harnessing up a dog that after all remained behind - (an honest dog) we hastened out - found about 15 lb hole in one of the Seals that the dogs had eaten out. With the big Seal by the nose I & black dog directed our faces toward the Igloo [[end page]] [[start page]] 1861 [[symbol: cross]] [[Sunday]] Feb 17th while Jack with the other Seal followed after. The Seals 4 are now safe from dogs. The two we dragged in are deeply imbedded in snow on the W. side of the walls of the Igloo from wh. place we expect to take them early to-morrow morning carrying them down Home with us. Ugarny then has 4 Seals, Ebierbing has 4 making 8 within 5 or 6 days! At 2 this PM Jack took 2 seal dogs & started out to make some exertion on his own & family's behalf, Finding a Seal-hole he will remain through the night. Ugarny remained in Igloo this P.M. having a pair of Kod-lins (Tuk-too Breeches) made by Kunnia. The Kod-lins he had on gave out! The dinner to-day a rich one - cooked seal - & seal soup! the former always eaten by Innuits 1st. Civilization may yet adopt the custom. At 4 O'Clk PM I went out again to the open sealing water to see what more could be done at seal shooting. I found the wind still strong from the N Ther. minus 30° that is 62° below freezing point. Harpoon spear & line in one hand, rifle & ammunition bag in the other. There being such a contrast in the temperature of the air & swiftly moving water that thick steam was lifting itself in clouds from the latter obstructing all sight if there were any seals. I was obliged to return a disappointed man. This AM, as I sat behind the screen with my rifle aiming to the windward, the wind brought the moist air & covered me & the rifle's muzzle with thick rime. For supper half the Rabbit wh. Ugarny shot this A.M. It made a full supper including the soup for all present - I, U. & K. I can assure any one of my friends in the States that I could not enjoy a meal better unless it was from being with them. God hath provided His people here that kind of food best adapted to their sustenance - the Great Whale - Polar Bear - Walrus - Seal - Rein-deer - Rabbits - Salmon - Ducks etc. etc. [[underlined]] It is not, [[/underlined]] as some have written & spoken it: [[underlined]] "A God Forsaken Country"! [[/underlined]] There is real comfort, pleasures, happiness among these Iron sons & daughters of the North! I was shown to-night by Ugarny lead balls made by his No2 wife (K) for my Rifle (E. having left U. but 4) by hammering them from pieces of lead. They are sperical & of fitting size. I am astonished at the excellent make of these Balls by so rude & simple yet difficult process! The Ik-ku-mer (Fire Lamp) of the Innuits is incapable of producing sufficient heat to fuse lead wh. requires a heat of [[space]] degrees. A compound ought to be gotten up & furnished these people wh. requires but moderate heat so that they may mould their Balls by their own Fire. It should of course be soft - as soft as lead - but the difficulty may be greater than the cost. Kun-ni-a has cut out & sewed a pair of excellent Kod-lins for U. this P.M. 7 Eve. To-morrow we all return to our Homes South.
