Page:Life with the Esquimaux - 1864 - Volume 1.djvu/33

12 made under my own eye in Cincinnati, as also a stock of pemmican.

I now returned to the West for the purpose of settling my affairs and preparing for departure.

The press gave a friendly notice of my intentions; and a circular was issued by Mayor Bishop and Miles Greenwood, inviting my fellow-citizens to meet me at the Burnet House. This meeting took place on the 26th of April, and I was much gratified with its auspicious character.

Soon after this (on May 10th), I bade adieu to my home and friends—to all of human ties that I held dearest to my heart, and departed for New York. Here I devoted the remaining time to various matters connected with my departure, constantly receiving advice and assistance from Mr. Grinnell. Finally, on Saturday evening, May 26th, I left for New London to join the George Henry. The funds for my expedition were, however, so low, that I found myself sadly deficient in many things that were almost absolutely necessary. But, at the last moment, when this was known to Mr. Grinnell, he unhesitatingly supplied the deficiency.

On arriving at New London, I received many kind invitations from numerous friends I encountered there. Among others, I cannot forbear alluding to a dinner given the day before my final departure by Mr. Haven (of the house of Williams and Haven), who, with his amiable family, extended every hospitality toward me. On the occasion to which I refer, the viands were plentiful and good; but Mrs. Haven uttered some graceful remark, wishing there had been longer time to have made a more abundant and richer display to welcome me; whereupon one of her youngest sons, a little lad, very intelligently said, "He guessed that where I was going to I might see the day when I should be glad to get as good!" Since then, how often and often have I called to mind that entertainment and young Master Haven's words, especially, when obliged to eat scraps of raw walrus' hide, whale-skin, the contents of walrus and reindeer paunches, etc. and sometimes not able to get even that much to try and