Viewing page 32 of 661
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
3 [[page number]] 1861 June 25th Tues. a long pull - a strong pull - a pull altogether we [[?compressed]]. The Boat was oared it around to the opposite side from where the tide struck the Island - though the water rolled & tumbled as if mad, yet they did not molest us while climbing up the high Ice collars that surround the most Islands visited. Once up, away [[?and]] distant from the rocks where for the 1st time in my life I saw Eider Ducks' nests - & of course for the 1st time assisted in abstracting the lucious, large eggs therein. In 10 minutes 4 of us gathered six Dozen. Bailey [[strikethrough]] had [[/strikethrough]] [[?]] 2 or 3 shots on this 1st I stand but we got no ducks in return. One of his crew, however, shot one wh. fortunately was swept into a circus ring of ice formed by tide currents from different directions from tide. We obtained it as we passed along on leaving the Island. The distance from this Island to Sylvia Grinnell Island on wh. I & my 2 Innuit companions 1st landed & spent the 2d night out on my trip to the extreme of this unknown land is quite short - not exceeding 3 miles - perhaps less than two. It was like meeting old friends to see that Island again after having lent us its warm, dry rocks for a bed & their protection from storms. When we visited 1st Island, tide had fallen but little - as we made for others it grew lower & lower cruising it very difficult to ascend the ice collar of the Islands. If these collars of the Island were simply perpendicular that would do very well comparatively - but they project over front 10 to 30 feet. [[image: drawing of ocean, mountain, ice cliff and boat with annotations] Water Height of tide full & change of Moon [[crescent moon symbol]] [[?]] [[north arrow]] feet Ice Collar around Island of rocks [[/annotations]] Where the tide has fallen 20 to 24 feet it is no joke to get to the top of this collar. The latter Islands from wh. we obtained eggs were ascended by 2 placing the long oars up the collar having the one end of such in the Boat as above. The oars were our ladder. From one small Island we gathered 16 Doz. & 5 eggs in 20 minutes. Bailey shot 2 Ducks with one discharge as we drew towards it. Charley Keehey with his crew [[end page]] [[start page]] 4 [[page number]] 1861 June 25th Tues. visited other Islands at the same of our making those we did. Occasionally we could hear the gun reports of his company telling us they are at least making a noise whether they were killing Ducks or not. On one Island we obtained but 1 Doz. some one either Innuit or Kabloona having the same day preceded us gathered all the Eggs. The eggs are said to be replaced (by the ducks laying) every two or 3 days. [[underlined]] We started from point south of Lupton Channel (Mt. Main) at 4 1/2 O.Clk P.M. and arrived at the [[?Tapiks]] 2 hours [[/underlined]] later - on the way raised sail but so little wind soon took it in. I took out with me pocket sextant to determine Latitude but being at a point at the proper time unfavourable for any sights could not use it. Last night Sterry & company of Innuit went went out in a Whale Boat egging. They got [[strikethrough]] about same No. [[/strikethrough]] some 35 or 40 Doz. [[?Annanen]] & his [[?noolooana]] presented me last eve with a brace of Ducks ready for cooking. [[?Esoolew]] presented me with a brace of same kind of fowl on my day of arrival - giving me also eggs. [[?Arturkparu]] has also presented me with same luscious food. The ducks I carry in to the cook having him use them as common provision for the G.U. Co. The bridges (Arches) of ice locking together Island after Island - seen to-day on passing into "Bear Sound". Wednesday, June 26th 1861 A.M. 32° Wind E. Fresh (Fair Weather) M. " [[ditto for: Wind]] E. Light breeze Fine. P.M. E. Strong " [[ditto for: breeze]] but Fine (Clear) [[right margin]] At 5 P.M. 1 1/2° E (Compass) [[/right margin]] Another Fine day - now 3 together. At VI This Morn Compass 1° West of N. Magnetic Pole At XI A.M. " [[ditto for: Compass]] 2° " " " " " [[dittos for: West of N. Magnetic Pole]] At One P.M. " [[ditto for: Compass]] 1/2° " " " " " [[dittos for: West of N. Magnetic Pole]] At 3 P.M. " [[ditto for: Compass]] 1/2° E. " " " " [[dittos for: of N. Magnetic Pole]] Mr. Rogers, Mate George Henry tells me
