94 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



ply waste lumber. Under no circumstances shall I keep 

 him beyond this port. He cannot speak English or 

 understand it ; he has already, by his stupidity, almost 

 made me grow gray. With it all, he is as childlike and 

 bland as the celebrated " heathen Chinee." He will 

 spill water, break a plate, or stumble over us with a 

 smile that is almost heavenly. All that he is good for 

 is to aggravate the steward, who, though he is his 

 countryman, pitches into him in Chinese without stint. 



Our furs are all being made up into clothing on 

 shore, and we have a very fine outfit indeed. With my 

 usual luck, I have met another man who makes me 

 presents. The agent here, Mr. Newman, besides giv- 

 ing me his own outfit of fur clothing, insists on my 

 taking his Winchester repeating rifle with eight hun- 

 dred rounds of ammunition. In vain do I protest that 

 I do not want it, — the ship owning already four, of 

 which I use one. Mr. Newman seems to think I shall 

 not be properly equipped unless I take his rifle, and 

 so rather than give offense I accept it. 



I also organized and sent off a hunting party in the 

 steam-cutter, consisting of Melville, Collins, Dunbar, 

 and the doctor. I gave them a tent and so forth, and 

 they remained away all night, coming back with about 

 a dozen ducks, and stiff and aching from the tramp 

 and sleeping on the ground. The doctor says he is con- 

 vinced that man must take to hard work gradually to 

 get accustomed to it. I think a tramp like that about 

 once a year would suit him very well. 



[from the journal.] 



August 21st, T'hursday. — A busy day with us. Com- 

 menced to swing ship at nine a. m. for compass devia- 

 tion. At one p. M. commenced receiving stores from 



