Page:Life with the Esquimaux - 1864 - Volume 2.djvu/82

Rh "As I meet Koojesse and Kooperneung (Charley), I find them in capital spirits. At tea their wives Tu-nuk-der-lien and Ak-chuk-er-zhun are aboard, and appear in good new dresses, and hair dressed in 'States fashion.' Converse with them of the voyage we are about to make to ' wes-see-poke ' (far-off land). I am highly elated, my crew so far excellent. Captain B, with whom I have counselled, advised me to take Ebierbing's aunt, Koo-ou-le-arng (Suzhi), making, with Koodloo, a crew of six—five at the oars and one boat-steerer, leaving me free to be constantly on the look-out. The only objection to Suzhi is that she is very heavy, weighing not less than 200 pounds—the very heaviest Innuit of the country. "All arrangements are now made to start from the vessel early to-morrow morning. Breakfast is ordered by Captain B to be in readiness at 5. The Innuits are to strike their tupics, and have them in the boat, and be alongside at that hour. The weather is now good, and to-night gives every indication of a fair day to-morrow. May it prove so. I have taken out of the ship's "run" a can (ninety pounds) of pemmican, and one cask of "Borden's" meat-biscuit (about one hundred pounds), brought with me from home. These I shall carry along in the boat, being the most condensed form of valuable provisions. Not that I expect these will be the only provisions I shall have, for there is reason to suppose we shall acquire much in going up Frobisher Bay in the way of ducks, seals, and reindeer, the latter when we arrive at the head of Frobisher Bay.

"At a late hour I turn in, to rise early, that we may be off to reap the benefit of a fair tide not only in going down to, but proceeding through Lupton Channel An ebb tide will favour us much in getting to the channel, and the flood in getting through it."