Viewing page 309 of 309

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

(7)
May 11th Saturday

[[?]] Ni-ou-te-ling [[underlined]] last year [[/underlined]] (1860)!)
God sparing my life (& [[underlined]] Deo Volente [[/underlined]]) I shall not fail to visit Ni-ou-te-ling, & if to be found, gather up the relics of near Three Centuries ago!

If [[underlined]] such facts, [[/underlined]] as herein developed in this day's record, extending back to 1576-7 & 8, gathered from the sons & daughters of the North, [[underlined]] are worth their cost [[/underlined]] in obtaining them, Will not [[underlined]] every fact [[/underlined]] concerning the Expedition of Sir John Franklin be esteemed a hundred fold more so?

What encouragement should I receive in pursuing the primary object of my visitation to the North, by what I have gained to-day?

The singular fate of Count La Perouse & his expedition was unknown to the civilized World for [[underlined]] thirty eight years! [[/underlined]]  The fate of [[underlined]] the five men [[/underlined]] of Master Frobisher's first Expedition North is reasonably  [[underlined]] determined to-day [[/underlined]] for the civilized World after being shrouded in [[underlined]] mystery & doubt [[/underlined]] for [[underlined]] Two hundred & Eight five years! [[/underlined]]

Among the same Race - the Innuits of Boothia & King Williams Land - are there not facts - many, & worthy of almost reverential regard - to be acquired relative to Sir John Franklin & his Expedition - [[underlined]] facts of 14 to 16 years ago? [[/underlined]]

In continuation of my interview with O-ko-ju-a-ju-ni-no I make record of what she communicated relative to my question - Why Innuits do not live now upon the land extending South Eastward between the Waters of Frobisher Bay & Rescue Bay (Tin-nu-jok-ping goo-se-ong & Kneu-gum-mi-uke)?

As interpreted by Tuk-oo-li-too, her answer was that:  'A great many years ago, before she (O.) was born, the Innuits all around these Bays were very many - that the number of Innuits on the Island Kie-kik-tung-ju-a 

[[end page]]
[[start page]]

(8)
1861 May 11 Sat.

& the other Islands (said Islands make the apparent ridge or tongue of land indicated - Hall) was great (am-a su-ad-lo) that at one time they were nearly all out on the ice when [[underlined]] it [[/underlined]] separated from the land & took them out to sea.  They never came back or did any Innuits ever hear of them again!  Since then Innuits never live there or even visit the land on the other side (S.E.) of Ik-hi-uk-bu-hu-a [a channel leading from Kneu-gum-ni-uke (Rescue Bay) to Tin-nu-jok-ping-goo-se-ong (Frobisher Bay) called by Frobiser, supposed be the same *+) "Bear Sound" Hall]

This accounts for the [[underlined]] mystery [[/underlined]] that has long hung over this matter.  During my so-journ here, I have wondered why I could not glean some information from the Innuits respecting said land.  I have asked nearly all the natives with whom I have met, about this land.  Have not met one that has ever visited it.  Even the old lady, O-ku-ju-a-ju-ni-no, spoke of the place with deep, constrained information - sighing & as if struck with horror with the remembrance & relation of the story.

In answer to my question:  If she had ever visited it?  She replied, most emphatically - [[underlined]] Never! - never!! [[/underlined]]
And yet, this land in sight from almost every point about here - yes, & within [[underlined]] touching distance, [[/underlined]] as the Innuits make passage from this bay (Rescue Bay) through Bear Sound to Frobisher Bay, wh. they do make more or less every year.

I have wanted to visit said land over the ice, but have met with incomprehensible unexplained obstacles in getting the company of any Innuits.  [[underlined]] I now comprehend it all. [[/underlined]]  At the time I sought by tracking the lost man of the "George Henry", whose end was so terrible, I went within 3 or 4 miles of its N.W. termination.

To my question, If the Innuits lived on said deserted land (or rather - [[underlined]] "ill-fated land", [[/underlined]] in the spirit of the Innuits) at the time the ships of White men came here, the old lady said:  'Yes, a great many - & lived there as Innuits do at other places? (meaning now here, how there, now everywhere in accordance to Innuit custom, - not long in one place at a time).  They (the Innuits) continued to live there a great many years after the ships came here - but before she was born, Innuits there all lost - went with the Seko (sea ice) & never came back again!  Since then [[?no]] more Innuits go there!  

(Continued to Vol V