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[[boxed]] 1862 Apr 13 [[image - cross]] [[/boxed]] wife with a multitude of progeny of her kind around her. As the indications in the weather were anything but cheering to an [[underlined]] Arctic Explorer [[/underlined]] I necessarily made but little delay at the head of bay. At 20 minutes after 7 AM started on return. The dogs get the idea (?) into their heads that the turn about was [[underlined]] [[?turn]] from Home [[/underlined]] & they ardently refused to go. A sound thrashing convinced them of their mistake, & afterward worked like good dogs. In one hour ^[[ [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] 10 minutes, were opposite the place where I turned back last evening. At IX back to Igloo of last night. The wind was now freshening up & snowing ha^[[r]]d. Had the weather been as that hour ^[[(IX)]] when we turned out should have kept housed till an improvement had presented itself as it was I determined to reach place of 3d encampment by night if possible. I deeply regretted so unfavorable weather in making my return as I had put off taking sights on my way up for the complete survey of the Bay for my return. I wished 1st to push on (without any loss of time ^[[in]] sighting) to determine the extent of Bay. I was greatly cheered this morning to find the weather so favorable the sky on turning out at V being almost cloudless - for I wished Sun to determine the latitude of the place (Head of Bay) astronomically - As it is I rely upon a careful kept account of distances & courses made. I started from igloo left this morning on my [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] return to this place 4th encampment (Same as 3d) at IX & arrived here h V - m 10 PM having travelled to day full Miles The passage has been made by great & continued effort [[end page]] [[start page]] [[boxed]] Apr 13th [[image - cross]] [[/boxed]] the circumstances were quite sufficient to make it so not only a serious gale accompanied by drift snow filling the air so thickly that oft time could not see objects 3 fathoms distant - indeed at times could not see at all - but the dogs became perfectly ex^[[h]]austed from their ^[[being]] overworked without having sufficient food. I had supposed that Koo-jesse ^[[& Sharkey]] had fed up my "Greenlanders" since leaving Oo-ping-ne-wing [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethrough]] the same as they had fed theirs - but on questioning Henry on this matter found that the Innuits had continued to feed feed with their dogs neglecting mine wholly. This accounted for the exhaustion of my dogs to day. It was [[strikethrough]] not [[/strikethrough]] no gratifying news to me to learn of the fact as given above. A fresh & well fit team of dogs would have made swift speed over ^[[ [[?]] ]] the whole distance made to-day. Much of the distance it is impossible for a man to walk & made one mile per hour on account the condition of the snow on the ice while dogs with sledge heavily loaded would find no difficulty over same route. By relieving the dogs if all load [[strikethrough]] much [[/strikethrough]] part of the way & 1/2 the load most of the way they have succeeded in getting through. Two of the dogs were so knocked up that they could ^[[not]] pull a lb. One became so fatigued that he tumbled down quite often. The way we have been blessed in getting back safely without any mishap is enough to command [[strikethrough]] ^[[ [[?]] ]] [[/strikethrough]] lively gratitude from any man's heart. Had not the gale been to our backs we could not have got back to-night. Such a cold, cutting gale cannot be faced. The snow with wh. it was charged would blind man or beast in travelling wind ward.
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Note: first line on second page obscured by page fold-over, probably 1862
