On the 9th, one of the Esquimaux women (wife of Keiktoo-oo) that came to
see us, had a brass wheel 1-1/3 or 2 inches in diameter fastened on her
dress as an ornament. It was evidently part of some instrument, probably
of some of those left by Sir John Ross at Victoria Harbour. I wished to
purchase it, but she would not part with it.
15th.--Akkeeoulik brought over a large and heavy hoop of iron, which had
been at one time round the rudder head, bowsprit end, or mast head of a
vessel, as he said it had been taken off a large stick. I did not buy it
from him, as he was in disgrace for having disappointed me about the
oil. About 1 P.M. on the same day a number of the natives paid us a
visit, among whom were Ec-vu-chi, I-vit-chuk, and Ou-too-ouniak, three
of the most decent and best behaved of the party. They brought us a
quantity of venison, of which they had still a large stock, and some of
which they were now willing to dispose of, as they found that they had
more than was requisite for their own consumption.
They had frequently seen Ooblooria, Ikmallik, and some of the other
Esquimaux mentioned by Sir John Ross, and I also further learnt that the
man with the wooden leg, named Tulluahiu, was dead, but how long since I
could not discover.
The greater part of the men had been employed for the last fourteen days
digging away the snow from the boat to relieve her from the pressure, as
she was covered up to the depth of more than twelve feet. This was no
easy task; however, we managed it in the following manner. Having cut a
narrow opening through the snow down to the boat, we erected a tackle
over it and hoisted up the loose snow, as it was removed with spades and
axes. After excavating a space the full length of the boat, and clearing
the snow out of it, the bow and stern were alternately raised, and the
blocks of snow which were chopped from the top pushed underneath to
prevent its sinking down again. In this way the men could work without
exposure, and when the weather was stormy the hole was covered with a
sail, so that the snow-drift could not interfere with our labours. We
had yesterday got her close to the top of the snow roof, and to-day the
weather being fine she was hauled out and found to be uninjured, except
a small split in one of her thwarts caused by the great weight. She was
now placed in a situation where there was no danger of her being again
drifted over.
The Esquimaux left us on the 17th, having behaved themselves in the most
exemplary manner. One of Akkeeoulik's wives (quite a young dame with a
most interesting squint) took this opportunity of leaving her husband
and putting herself under the care of her father Outoo-ouniak, the
alleged cause of her dissatisfaction being that she did not get enough
to eat. The disconsolate man followed the party for some distance in
hopes of persuading the runaway to return, but without success.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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