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1861 Oct 29 Tues

the vessel is ice-prisoned here, among the Innuits.  Arrangements are already being made by the various members making up the Co. with Innuits to live with them.  I have made engagements with Ebierbing to become a member of his Igloo as last Winter.
Bidding Twer-oong & Miner tru-bon-e-ti (Good-bye) I returned to tupik of E. & found him in readiness.
We then made for the bay ice which now presents good walking basis preferring this route to the one leading over snow drifts rough, rocks & abruptly inclined ice.  Arriving in 15 minutes to the other village entered tupik of my friend Annawa.  I soon opened a Box of "Double Water proof Percussion Caps" & called for his Kok-e-ute.  I then took & dropped a few of said Caps into a dish of Water - took one Cap & placed it on the nipple - cocked gun & pulled trigger.  Annawa who watched closely all my movements was elated at the result, almost a pistol report from Water soaked Cap!  I then told Annawa that I wanted to ge of him a Took-too skin for wh. I would give him said Caps (250).  The caps pleased him so well that he was quite as pleased to accept the proposition as I in making it.  Soon "Kook-smith", (the young man Innuit who accompanied me over from Oo-pung-ne-wing last Winter taking his wife an-ny with him) came in.  I had been told by Took-oo-li-too that he had a skin to sell me for she had spoken to him.  He wanted a shirt & jacket for it!
The bargain was soon closed - thence I & E went to the tupik of one of the Northumberland Inlet Innuits.  Before we entered had some trouble with a large ferocious dog belonging thereto.  I went ahead.  The dog sat upon his haunches ready to dispute our entrance - but a little Innuit boy, well gifted with cunning, seeing our predicament, flung a scrap of meat over the dog's head to the distance thus causing dog to spring "off guard", leaving us free & safe access to his master's domicile.  We entered - found "Jack" & wife of Angekoo & Ange-Koo-[[underlined]] tress [[/underlined]] visiting them.  I first asked "Jack" if he had any took-too furs that he would "truk"?  He answered that his stock was "Smalley" a word all the Innuits have now in use to indicate that they have only what they need.  I asked the Innuit (of Sampson proportions) who was lord of the tupik, if he had any?  Before he could understand what I wanted, I called for his Kok-e-[[?ast]] (gun) & opened a Box of Water proof Caps placing one on nipple & testing it.  It's report was loud.  A 2d pull was made on same Cap wh. gave another report!

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1861 Oct 29 Tues.

At once "Jack" said he had some excellent skins (Took-too furs) & I should have one of the best for the Box of Caps.  He & wife hastened home, I & E. following.  Two minutes from the best of Caps, found me in possession of the 3d Took-too skin - that of course from "Jack".  Now I do not know but "Jack" thinks that each cap will fire a gun off twice - I do not know but they will - certainly it struck me strongly when I saw 2 pulls on & heard 2 reports of one Cap.  I am inclined to think the mainspring of the lock is weak, - thus the surprise.  If "Jack" is not satisfied with his bargain (wh. matter I will ascertain) I will add another Box.  Then certainly he can have double the number of shots of his 1st Box of Caps (250).
By the by, while in the tupik of the Northumberland Inlet Innuit, wife of "Jack" handed me something pendant from a string wh I took to be a [[underlined]] "charm". [[/underlined]]  On examining it found the same to be a piece of wood hornet-nest in appearance - completely perforated with circular holes 1/4 inch in diameter.  I made it fast to a button hole of my jacket.  This pleased the whole Company of Innuits present, so much so, that they all burst out in unrestrained laughter.  I keep this as one of m "Curios".  I am told by Mate Rogers that [[?Spar]] & other timbers are often found drifting in the Northern Seas of like character.  The perforation he says is by a sea-worm something like a Clam, long & having a hard shell around it.
The same creature will riddle a ship in a very short time unless coppered.
I did not get back to ship till quite late - found the steerage company taking refreshment to wit, eating boiled "black skin".  On an invite by Capt B. I participated.
The hunters returned in season to-day for their dinners - not having secured any game.  White men get easily discouraged.  If they go out on a hunt & do not see any game for 2 or three hours, they conclude there is none in the country.  Innuits are not thus.  They never give up - often will go out, day after day, without getting anything - often without seeing a seal, partridge or anything else, but they continue going, nevertheless seemingly with the same spirit as tho' they met with daily success.  [[underlined]] On this perseverance Innuits life [[/underlined]] - they could not by the White man's course.
John [[?Antom]], the Whale whipped man is getting better.  He has been able to be out for several days.  It makes my heart weep to hear the [[underlined]] language [[/underlined]] used by [[underlined]] some [[/underlined]] to the little Innuit girls that almost daily come aboard.  I would [[underlined]] blush [[/underlined]] to put upon paper the "talk" referred to.  I blush for my country that Americans become instruments in sowing the evils they do among this people - the Innuits!