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1861 [[symbol: cross]] [[Sunday]] Feb 17th

We shall make exertion to get a seal or two in the morning early & then away we go.

I am asked by U & K every now & then if I am hungry saying to me generously to help myself to such of the seal as I like!  Four seals are within reach.  The 2 parties treat me very kindly & I shall ever remember the time I have spent with them on this Sealing Excursion.  "One good deed deserves another".  I have ever tried to be as generous to them as my limited means have allowed.  I am thankful that my heart prompted me to consent to the loan of my favorite Rifle & furnishing Ball & ammunition by which 9 Seals were killed (7 secured)

Evening gloriously fine.  Aurora at play!  Stars bright in the cold clear air.

40th Night in an Igloo!
Monday, Feb. 18th 1861

Home again!  Once more greeted 'welcome' to my Northern Home!  My Home of Snow - yet Home of Warm hearts!

This Morning we were up at a late hour for the journey we had before us - but a good reason why.  It was very cold out - the wind blowing fresh from the N & Ther. 67° below freezing point.  Yet, within the small Igloo, it was [[underlined]] comfortable. [[/underlined]]

I slept with native costume on, as night preceeding.  My bed company, Ugarny & Kunnia.  Breakfast consisted of a bountiful supply of raw frozen Seal met - do. Seal liver then 1/2 an hour after seal cooked - & hot Seal Soup.  In all, I believe I ate 3 lbs solid meat & 1 lb by weight of soup wh. consisted of rich Seal Blood - the juices of much of the cooked meat & sea water.  Talk about Innuits eating!  Any white man living here among them & acquiring a like for their peculiar food, would soon equal them in amount!  Of course, my breakfast was for fuel to keep the human locomotive on the move all day!

Jack came in from his sealing about VIII AM.  He found a Seal hole a little way up the channel leading N. wh. finally turns W. meeting the waters that divide Oo-Kood-lear Island from the Main Land on the W side.  Jack as usual was

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1861 Mon. Feb 18th

unsuccessful.  Having the exposure I was about to subject myself to, I kept within, till the moment of loading up.

Last night, I made up my mind to visit, this Morning, the sealing-waters, but the wind & cold made me give it up.

By Ugarny's advice we delayed our starting till the Suk-er-nuk (Sun) was up.  At IX 1/2 we commenced unbanking the Seals.  One after another was exhumed & [[underlined]] "Let go"! [[/underlined]] was the order, & down the steep hill side leading to the sea ice where awaited the Kum-mi-ti with dogs in harness the slid with great speed.  While Ugarny, I & Jack loaded the Seals, Kunnia packed the contents of the Igloo wh. consisted mainly of such as they (U. & K.) had [[underlined]] "backed" [[/underlined]] on their trip to this place;  Tuk-too furs (bedding), a fire-lamp & "cooking-fixings".  In 15 minutes, Igloo was cleared save seal bones, [[?save]] meat.  The dogs then struggled to break loose to get their usual "pickings" of an abandoned Igloo - but we could'nt stop for their convenience or [[underlined]] necessities! [[/underlined]]  Innuit dogs are [[space]] with Starved dogs.  Their constant hunger makes them [[underlined]] devils [[/underlined]] seeking continually whom & what they can devour!

When nearly finished in binding (by Oug-juke cords strings) the load, Ugarny with my cheerful consent took my now famous Rifle & proceeded out to the Sealing Waters where he remained sufficient time to satisfy him longer delay would not pay.  In the meantime, we started the team & got our ride homeward when Kunnia who led the way came across the "junk" of Whale I lost off the sledge coming up from Kou-tuk-ju-a.  She placed her foot upon it - the dogs perceived the feast though far ahead of them - & started off at a swifter rate than a "stage coach with four".  Soon as "Smile", the faithful leader, reached the enticing spot (his longer lims allowing him to be No1 in arrival to it) he stopped [[underlined]] instanter [[/underlined]] as did the others!  Now was a scene! - dogs 2 & 3 deep - jumping, biting, growling, howling, tumbling, fighting for that frozen prize under them!  The Kum-mi-ti, by their speed, had acquired a tremendous momentum for dog-power & ere the dogs could have a 2d though (?) they were struck broadside & stern too, with the heavily loaded sledge, carrying them - & [[underlined]] Whale [[/underlined]] - for several rods on the smooth ice before being brought up!  The sight was one well worth the space I give it.  But [[underlined]] whale [[/underlined]] was no so easily despatched.  It was [[underlined]] one solid, frozen mass, [[/underlined]] "Jack" commenced cutting away piecemeal with my hatchet;  but hungry dogs rushed so [[underlined]] savagely [[/underlined]] around & under the dangerous instrument that I told "Jack" to take the "feed" some distance ahead & there it cut up while I & Kun-ni-a would keep the team at bay.  He had no sooner commenced to "chip off", before dogs, as if possessed with [[underlined]] Super-dog power, [[/underlined]] started Kum-mi-ti in spite of whip & the combined, & almost super [[underlined]] human, [[/underlined]] exertions of myself &