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1861 Dec 14 Sat ship's sides, bow & Stern would make us comfortable while now it is far otherwise. A lamentable fact - [[underlined]] a shameful one [[/underlined]] - the youngest of the Ship's Company - the "Sailor boy" is now the subject of one of those horrible "secret diseases" that are communicated by those hailing from civilization "sailors" to the gentler sex of all lands - that of the rude, untutored Innuits of the North not [[?esaping]]! Not an unusual thing for the Innuit women to become contaminated with these diseases communicated to them by Whalers. From some on of these "ladies - fair but frail" this "Sailor boy" has got "burnt". How the heart recoils on the reflection of such palpable, [[underlined]] Terrible facts! [[/underlined]] Has not Christianity a Great Work yet to do? The number of incidents of this Christian of wh. I am cognizant is not measured by a unit! The evening is [[underlined]] fine [[/underlined]] (that is at IV) - the wind fresh from N.W. Four days now have I been waiting for permissable weather to start on my journey to Toong-wine. I dislike to start out on Sunday but if weather be favorable to-morrow I must go, the obliging reason being that I must have took-too furs for my bedding this Winter when I depart from the vessel to live with the Innuits, as all are compelled to do for subsistence. Breakfast = fried Whale, Bread & Coffee; Dinner = permican with Borden's meat biscuit Bread & Coffee = (hearty meal). Supper = with Capt. B in the little pantry = Coffee & Cold Pemican Compare Chros. (Vide Dec 9th) Rescue's = hX-m05-s03.5 (7s (Vide 19th Dec) G.H's = IX-45-00 R's fast on G.H. = m20-s03.5 [[checkmark]] At VI PM the heavens in clouds, the Moon & a few stars dimly out. The Main Cabin full of Innuits to-night - several participating in games of Chequers & Back Gammon. I take along with me a Polar Bear skin for me & my small company to sleep upon in our Igloo that we contemplate making on the Island Oo-pung-ne-wing where I expect to make a stop the 1st night out. Now VIII P.M. the clouds dispersing wind freshening up - Barometer falling. [[end page]] [[start page]] (1 Six Pages in this day's record The state of Ther. & Bar. kept by Mate Gardiner at the ship during my 4 Days absence. Left the ship V-45 AM on trip to Toong-wine + [[Sunday]] Dec 15th 1861 Bar 29.15 AM -20° N W Light Breeze light clouds 29.175 M -20° N W " " " " [[dittos for: Light Breeze light clouds]] 29.225 PM -24° N W Fresh [[underlined]] Fine [[/underlined]] [[note]] Time found in Record below by Watch [[/note]] This Morning at 3 O'clock I was on deck to take a look at the Weather - found it favorable - concluded to sleep an hour longer & then if it continued the same call up Smith (young Smith) that he might harness up dogs & call Kook-smith, the Innuit. I had but turned in when Herr Smith came gently into the Main Cabin & thence with light in hand into aft Cabin, turning to left into my sleeping apartment. I raised up & recognized him & his purpose. He asked if I thought of starting this Morning? I told him I had just been on deck & found weather fine & therefore concluded I should. He asked if he should go & call Kook-smith & get together the dogs? I replied affirmatively. In 1/2 hour I arose & proceeded to make a fire that I might be refreshed with a warm drink of coffee before starting. While proceeding with this apperation Lamb turned out & then Keeney. The former one finding the early hour turned in again while the latter took my place as fire-maker & Cook. Keeney put on the tea-kettle, made an abundance of Coffee & fried me a Breakfast of Whale Steaks! When all was ready he announced the same to me. I went into little pantry & partook - then I was ready. But it was fully V O'clock before the dogs were got together & in harness & along side. Then commenced operations of strapping "Bag & Baggage" onto the Kummitie. Just as I was about leaving Cabin, Keeney got out 2 pieces (9 inches squire each) of Raw, frozen "Black Skin" for our fare while on contemplated trip - which Smith (Robt. Smith) who had turned out a few minutes before, brought out of the pantry a few pieces of Sea-bread, a few slices Beef & Pork & gave to me for lunch on the way up. At V-45 we started. The number of dogs was only 4 & one quite useless, for it never was in harness before. We had not proceeded more than 1/4 of a mile before we unharnessed the young dog & allowed him to return to the Igloos. I intended to have 12 or 14 Dogs, but when getting dogs together the balance were off - could not be found. The Moon was shining brightly - Ther. 52° below freezing point. From the vessel we struck direct for a narrow passage between the Hands leading to the ice on the W. side of the Main Island. The passage consisting of ice made by the high tide at full & change of Moon.
