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1861 Nov 9 Sat these life sustaining elements. Compared with the cost of "salt junk" & salt pork considering the [[underlined]] good health [[/underlined]] & [[underlined]] strength [[/underlined]] imparted by the use of the former (Pemican & Borden's biscuit meat) & the ill consequences resulting from the latter, most assurably Pemican & B's M.B. is cheaper. Through the day constant strong wind heavily charged with moisture. Surely our year is drawing toward a close midst gloom & storm. I cannot but feel thankful that the Innuits were blessed when the last 3 whales were captured by the men of the G.H. There would be suffering now among them had not those whales been taken. Nov. 10th 1861 29.4 AM 32° S.S.E. Light Very cloudy Not fog [[strikethrough]] thick [[/strikethrough]] M 30° S.W. " " [[dittos for: Light cloudy]] at 3PM out & wind NW PM 28° N W " [[ditto for: Light]] [[underlined]] Fine [[/underlined]] Aurora [[note]] See supplement [[/note]] Compare Chros Rescue's hIX-m25-s31 62B/2 G.H.'s IX-07-00 R's fast on GHs 18-31 [[checkmark]] During the night Gale continued, but this morning at (V) it ceased, the moist clouds giving place to those indicative of fair weather. The storm now ended [[end page]] [[start page]] 1861 Nov. 10th + [[Sunday]] commenced Tuesday 5th, continuing to this morning making 5 days & 5 nights the heavens constantly in thick, wet clouds. At 3 P.M. [[symbol: Sun]] peered out wind shifting to N.W. At 4 P.M. I took a walk to the Island & made a call on my friends Ebierbing & Tuk-oo-li-too. Going over, I was overtaken by Sharkey who had in hands a large piece of Krang & Black Skin wh. he had just taken from one of his provision deposites on the Island N. of the vessel. I borrowed Ebierbing's spy & proceeded to Look Out point. On my way, came across a company of men Innuits who were standing around a cache of whale meat that they had just opened & on wh. they were feasting. I received an invitation to participate but having a full store of freshly eaten "Duff" & molasses (Dinner) I declined & passed on. The prospect from the hill of observation was anything but encouraging, the Bay being completely [[underlined]] 'packed' [[/underlined]] with hummocks & Icebergs. The weather having cleared up I could see the whole Bay. All around the "Extreme land" & the [[?rock]] across the Cape N. side & out sea-ward solid pack. I say this sight anything but encouraging because it settles the matter negatively about my being able to make another trip down to the Extreme land - & also all possibility of the natives catching seals here during the winter. Again, the Pack is of such a character that it will be very late in the Season before we can possibly get out of this Bay. What a subject for thought that it may be the vessel cannot get free during the year. The natives say that they never knew this Bay to become so filled with Kok-burgs (Pack) as now. To-night [[underlined]] 'Fine'. [[/underlined]] The Aurora is incomparable magnificence! Its colors of rare brilliancy & its movements awe-inspiring! It seems as if the display now being made by this phenomenon surpasses all others that I have yet seen. I wish I had the power of conveying to my friends a truthful description of its workings, its beauty to-night. [[underlined]] "J'en suis ravis". [[/underlined]] - I am ravished with it. A hV-m30 evening the air clear - unnumbered stars shining in gay confusion throughout the whole of yon blue vault - the moon, "now of increase", rearing her meridian throne & flooding in glory snow clad mountains, vales & ice covered seas. "-Not a breath disturbs the deep serene, And not a cloud o'ercasts the solemn scene". At VI-30 a belt of Aurora reached from the Eastern horizon