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1861 Oct 30th Wedns. under our present, gloomy, helpless circumstances will meet the approbation of the contributors to the expenses of my outfit in way of provision, ammunition &c &c - I have told Capt. B. that whatever I have that will contribute to the sustenance of his ship's Company the present Winter, the same is at his command. I have shot & Percussion Caps still left. Whatever amount of these that has been or may yet be required by Capt. B. for the benefit of [[underlined]] all [[/underlined]] interested in the GH has not been or will the same be withheld. I have 9 cans of Pemmican of about 100 lbs each remaining of the 12 1/4 wh. I had when I left the States. Also I have 1 1/2 casks Borden's Meat Biscuit probably 1 2/3. The Pemmican & Met Biscuit are of the most excellent quality & equivalent to full 3200 lbs Fresh Beef Steak. Now in 9 months say 270 Days this would allow what is equivilent to 11.9 lbs (eleven & nine tenths) fresh meat per day - or 23.8 lbs per day for 4 1/2 months. Of these articles I have already spoken to Capt. B. saying that they were ready to supply his & ship Company's [[underlined]] necessities [[/underlined]] during the Winter. Yesterday, Kood-loo & Koo-per-neu-ung whle out in Ki-as saw many Whales. This morning there was talk of sending out the Boats taking them on sledges over the ice to the open water - but on Capt. B's sighting with spy from one of the Islands, found it impractical until the "scum ice" was dispersed. It is now purposed that as soon as weather will permit to send out & make a trial for securing some of these whales. Capt B hopes to get three more before many days pass. Capt. B. learned yesterday, or day before, from some of the Northumberland Innuits that the brig "Georgiana" & Barque "Pioneer" started for the States from said Inlet several days before the Innuits left there (wh. was about the time I started on my Frobisher Bay trip). But those vessels found the Pack so heavy were obliged to return. When the Northumberland Innuits, now here, left, said vessels were after a while going to make another attempt. So it seems the G.H. is not the only vessel that has Pack to contend with. Probably when we arrive in the States, if we ever do, we shall learn of other vessels being obliged to Winter here North. For dinner Duck "sea pie" & Coffee. It is perhaps unnecessary to say the dinner was a capital one. An hour before dinner a lunch on "Black Skin". It would be an amusing sight to some of my friends to see our Messes around in the Main Cabin [[end page]] [[start page]] 1861 Oct 30 Wedns - some seated on sea chests & even on steps leading from little Aft cabin, some standing - each with Knife & Muk-tuk in hands [[underlined]] banquetting! [[/underlined]] Some would wonder that we could eat such stuff; but certainly that wonderment would cease when told [[underlined]] we must do it to live! [[/underlined]] I do not think it can be said that any of us eat it because we really like it. Some philosopher (certainly whoever said it was such) that man should not live to eat, but [[underlined]] eat to live. [[/underlined]] We are of that class that eat to live. That philosopher should see how well [[underlined]] our [[/underlined]] practices agree with [[underlined]] his [[/underlined]] precept! To-night we are having a Gale - during the P.M. - wind blowing strong by night increased to a Gale. Thursday, Oct 31 1861 AM 20° N.E. Furious Gale with snow M 20° N.E. " " " " [[dittos for: Furious Gale with snow]] PM 18 N E Gale but abating (thick) During the night X P.M. star light the Gale now prevailing continued without cessation of its fury. It may well be said that we were serenaded from Eve to Morn with the "Gale Song". Now hX-m30 A.M. blowing as severe a Gale as we have yet experienced North. Standing on deck fully facing the Gale one cannot without great effort breathe! So filled is the air with fine snow that a few rods distance, in any direction is the limit of sighting anything. Capt. B. says he has not known a time while coming to the N. when N.E. winds have been so general as during this last year. This Gale is from a direction that will drive the Pack now in Davis Strait still more impacted on to this the West side. Had the same vehemence of wind now sweeping over us come from the W. or S.W. it would have served to set the Pack from the W. side - perhaps given us opportunity to get out this Season. But as it is, our fate to Winter here is doubly sealed. Our lunch at 11 AM Boiled "Black-Skin". We have one table meal, wh. is dinner, at 2 P.M. - Morning cup of "Coffee" - we call it Coffee thinking by this doing we can cheat taste! - & with it sea-bread. Night black skin & Coffee. We are thankful for what we have.
