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(2 1861 Thurs. May 9th To-night Capt. B. has related to me [[underlined]] one [[/underlined]] of the exciting instances of his 20 years experience in whaling: At one time while sperm Whaling several years ago, in the South Seas, he with his Boat's crew had made fast with 2 irons to a full sized Sperm. A sundden storm accompanied with thunder & lightning at that moment burst upon them - the heavens were darkened & not a glimpse could they get of the ship. Every moment was expected to find them overwhelmed - & [[underlined]] lost! [[/underlined]] A flash of vivid lightning, for a time, blinded them. "Action now or never" seemed the moving principle with Capt. B. At once the lines by wh. they were fast to the Whale, (a Whale worth perhaps a round $4,000) were severed. The tub in wh. the line had been coiled was made fast by its beckets to a line, & this line also fast to the bow of the boat. Tub was then cast into the Sea, thus answering as a "drag" - a [[underlined]] "stay" [[/underlined]] to keep them from drifting with the furious wind & also answering to keep the boat's "Head to the wind". The lightnings become more & more frequent - more & more vivid - the thunder peeled louder & louder. The lances which were of bright Iron, were seized, one after another, & cast into the Deep. By this, it was expected danger from having iron aboard would be removed. The continuance of this Storm was 2 hours, at the end of wh. it cleared away, so that they descried the ship, but every sail torn in ribbons! They immediately made for it & after assisting in clearing up the debris, boats' crews went out again & soon raised a "School". The very first whale struck by Capt B. proved to be [[underlined]] the identical one [[/underlined]] he had before made fast to, for in it they found the 2 irons wit which he had first harpooned it, & to them attached the lines he was forced to sunder on being overtaken by the sudden storm. The 4,000$ Whale was saved, after all! Who would not have joined in giving three cheers - [[underlined]] "three times three" [[/underlined]] - for Capt. B., now of the "George Henry"! [[end page]] [[start page]] Friday May 10th 1861 AM 34° 28.700 E. light Cloudy M 54° 28.825 Calm " [[ditto for: Cloudy]] & warm PM 42 28.750 N.W. Light Sun now & then peering out This Morning, at 5 O'clock, the rain clouds began to give way for lighter ones. At VI no more rain. Ebierbing returned at 5 (AM) with Kood-loo & Kood-loo's family - & his (E's) grandmother, venerable O-Ka-gu-a-ge. They travelled all night. This Morning Tuk-oo-li-too informs me that she has already conversed with the old lady (O-ka-gu-a-ge) concerning what I am so anxious about - that is, whether there is any traditionary account among the Innuits about the vessels of [[underlined]] Frobisher [[/underlined]] visiting their coasts (in Frobisher Bay) a great many years ago. Tuk-oo-li-too says such is the fact by the old lady's account. She (O) being so exhausted by the night's passage from above to this place that but little was said concerning this matter. It was concluded to defer its extended consideration till to-morrow when I am to go over to Cooper Island where O. is & Tuk-oo-li-too with me continue this very interesting, & [[underlined]] very important [[/underlined]] historical subject. A [[underlined]] great [[/underlined]] favorite that is brought aboard every day; tho' [[underlined]] small [[/underlined]] in size, is "Sharkey's" infant boy, Won-nunk. It has just begun to talk, pronouncing many simple American & Innuit words as they are spoken to it. I deeply regret that now & then words escape (?) the lips of an occasional one of the [[strikethrough]] G.H.'s Co. [[/strikethrough]] that are caught up by this interesting child & repeated. An [[underlined]] Innuit infant being educated [[/underlined]] by [[underlined]] Americans to take God's name in vain! [[/underlined]] And this a source of [[underlined]] Amusement [[/underlined]] to some! Need I dwell upon this? I turn to other subjects, more [[underlined]] genial [[/underlined]] to put on record. "Jim Crow" (Kin-nu-ar-le-ping) & Annawa's son, E-e-eu-ar-ping, arrived this P.M. from Oo-pung-ne-wing (Annawa's settlement) with Kummiti & dogs having a load of the Walrus meat purchased by Capt B. on his trip there the other day. My dogs - "Greenlanders" - were of the team. "Bar-be-Kark" met me as an old & constant friend shaking himself all over with joy at meeting me again. Tuk-oo-li-too comes aboard 3 or 4 times a day - & so do nearly all the other Innuits about here. She spends some of her time instructing me in her (the Innuit) language. She is the best informed of her people. In fact as before recorded there is not an Innuit or any other one living better capable of acting as Interpreter than she. Beside I might almost say her appearance shows her to be an accomplished, [[underlined]] debonair [[/underlined]] young lady. She looks after my wearing apparel with a sharp eye repairing it when needed - making new skin clothing for my body & feet as she thinks most suitable for the seasons as they come.
