Viewing page 538 of 661

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Thursday, Nov 14th 1861

29.525  AM  32°  E.S.E.  6 o.u.
.6  M  E.S.E.  4 m [[symbol: circumpunct]] [[Sun]] dimly
.625  PM  ESE  4 m. g.
{Snow storm continued till XI AM then began to light up a little but continued but a short time.}

Last night quite a fall of snow - very moist however.  Quite a contrast this year from last.  Last Winter N.W. winds prevailed nearly all the time.  This, so far, Northerly & Easterly.  Easterly bring warm, or moderate weather while N. Westerly brings Cold.  Almost constant storm now.  Excepting one day & portion of another 10th & 11th, unceasing Easterly storm since the 5th, the heavens in gloom.
Yesterday in passing over the hill from one village to the other I came upon an Ig-loo (snow hut) the 1st I've seen this year.  Ning-u-ar-ping was with me.  I asked him whose it was?  By his answer I found it was being occupied by one of the Innuit ladies during one of those peculiar, occasional periods when Lords do not like their ladies too well --  This is Innuit custom - the woman must live secluded during as many days - say till she is well again.  It would be an unpardonable offence for her to enter any other tupik or Igloo in this time.
Dinner to-day Pemmican & Borden meat biscuit soup - palatable & rich eating.  One feels well all day on one meal of this.
After dinner, took a walk over to Ebierbing's.  Found him absent but his noo-li-an-a, Tuk-oo-li-too & Koo-ou-le-arny were there.  Spent a full hour with them.  While there, one of the Innuits from Northumberland Inlet came in bringing 4 leg pieces of 

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

1861 Nov 14 Thurs

of a Took-too (rein-deer) skin.  I learned from T. that she was getting them for me to make out the number required for making my "Kodlings", ([[underlined]] breeches, [[/underlined]] coming down to the knees).  She intends to make me a pair in the best of Innuit taste - but does not design to allow me to wear them here in this Country for she says that they will look old by the time I start for America & she wishes me to carry them home looking new that the people in the States may see the fine clothing Innuits have.  I will give willing ear to her advice.
While talking with Tuk-oo-li-too, found that she had been visiting among the Innuits to-day - furthermore found that she had learned that a company of Innuits arrived at Ni-oun-te-lik (a place of this name up in Northumberland Inlet) last winter from a place called by Innuits: 'Ar-Koon-ne-me-ung' (by some Innuits "Ar-gun-e-ute").  Tuk-oo-li-too thinks this place to be near Ig-loo-lik where her sister is.  The number of families that came from there four - came by means of Kum-mi-tirs (sledges) drawn by dogs.  She (T.) intends soon to have long talks with such of the Ni-oun-te-lik - ('upper Ni-oun-te-lik' as I shall term the one in Northumberland Inlet as distinctive from the one in Countess of Warwick's Sound).  Innuits that arrived here last fall as are acquainted with the fact of said arrival of Ar-Koon-ne-me-ung people.  She promises for my sake to make all possible enquiries & inform me the result.  See-ung-me-ung, the name of the Innuit that brought in the took-too pieces indicated above knew of such arrival but could get but very meager information from the new Innuits as their "talk" was difficult for him to understand.
Those who have been in these regions several times before (wintering here too) say that they have never experienced so continued mild weather at this season of this year.  Compared with last winter it is a remarkable change.
The "Chequer Board" made some time since is in constant use from early morn till late at night.  Puzzles are also being introduced.  The pin puzzle & the Chain Puzzle (the latter 1st brought out to-night) occupy much attention.  In all these amusements the Innuits become as proficient as any of the Ship's Company.