Page:Life with the Esquimaux - 1864 - Volume 2.djvu/53

34 At this time Captain B was absent with two boats a short distance up the bay "prospecting" for whales. He returned on the 28th of June, during a fierce storm of wind and rain, and he informed me that the trip back was made under most unfavourable circumstances. The previous night had been passed on an island above Evictoon, the only shelter obtained from the storm being that which their boats' sails afforded when put up as a tent. His own crew suffered greatly from the cold; but the Innuits with him, not finding sufficient room inside the tent, went out and ''lay down under the lee of some projecting rocks! They rested and slept well, while the white men'' could hardly keep themselves, as they said, from being frozen. On the evening of Friday, the 28th of June, having spent seven days at Cape True, I purposed starting back the next day for the vessel. An extract from my journal of that date I will here introduce:— "To-morrow I accompany Captain B back to the George Henry. He goes with the expectation of remaining there until the vessel is liberated, when he intends to return to this bay, and cruise around awhile, and if unsuccessful, to return to Field Bay, or proceed to Cornelius Grinnel Bay. Two boats' crews are to follow in a few days, while two remain here (Frobisher Bay) for a little while, to continue cruising for whales."

Here follows another entry in my journal, made just before leaving the whaling dépôt:—

"Saturday, June 29th, 1861.—I soon start for home—that is, set out for the vessel. Captain B and I are to have one sledge for ourselves and our traps, and will have Koojesse for dog-driver. Charley, the good-hearted Innuit, is to take another team along, to convey the clothes of two of the George Henry's men—one the carpenter, a Portuguese, and young Smith, who are to go along. "Puto and Miner's wife have been mending my kum-ings (native boots) this morning, that I may go dry-shod to the vessel, as we anticipate watery travelling."