Page:Life with the Esquimaux - 1864 - Volume 1.djvu/32

Rh could be desired in satisfactorily determining many of the unsettled questions indicated above, as well as increasing our geographical knowledge of that portion of the arctic regions over which you propose to pass.

"You have my earnest wishes for the accomplishment of the noble object you have in view, and I will cheerfully contribute toward the requisite funds to carry it out.

Shortly afterwards, Messrs. Williams and Haven, of New London, sent me the following most kind and generous proposal: "As a testimony of our personal regard, and the interest we feel in the proposed expedition, we will convey it and its required outfits, boats, sledges, provisions, etc. free of charge, in the barque George Henry, to Northumberland Inlet, and whenever desired, we will give the same free passage home in any of our ships." This generous offer relieved my mind of a great difficulty, and most gratefully I accepted their kind proposition. Having thus far succeeded in opening the way, I now gave directions for a suitable boat to be built.

Mr. G. W. Rogers, of New London, who had built the boats for the expeditions under De Haven, Cane, and Hartstene, was commissioned to build mine. Its dimensions were as follows: length, 28 feet; beam, 7 feet; depth, $29 1⁄2$ inches; and thickness of her planking, which was of cedar, seven-eighths of an inch. In form she was similar to a whale-boat, drawing only eight inches of water when loaded with stores and a crew of six persons. She had one mast, on which a jib and mainsail could be carried; a heavy awning to shelter the crew at night or when at rest; and the lockers for stores at each end were sufficiently large that a man could, if need be, comfortably sleep in either of them. Five oars, and all other essentials, formed a portion of her equipment. The sledge I took was