August, 1865.] A Visit from the Black Eagle. 189 



your Island. He records witli much feeling the emotions which he 

 experienced when the mate of the Black Eagle leaped ashore from 

 the first boat and hailed him with the news, " 'i'he war is ended ! but 

 our President is assassinated." '' This tlumderbolt transfixed me to 

 the spot ; that the war was ended was what I had fondly anticipated 

 I would learn ; but who of my worthy countrymen would be pre- 

 pared for such news — ' Our President is assassinated.' " This with 

 many other items of an interest fully to be appreciated by one so long- 

 shut out from the civilized world, was afterward placed in full before 

 him in the files of New York and Boston papers which had been 

 received by the whalers from the Daniel Webster at Marble Island. 



The best feeling continued to prevail between Hall and the cap- 

 tains of the two whalers during their stay. On his visits to their ships, 

 he informed them of the places in which a number of black whales 

 had been seen by himself and by the Innuits, who had also seen 

 many white whales (Belphinus Albicans), which were small. As to the 

 color of these, the natives said that it was the young ones but two or 

 three years old which retain the walrus or brown hue ; the old ones 

 (kil-lee-lu-yers) are white. He regretted that the other whalers did 

 not come up into the bay to share in the partial success of the Ansel 

 Gibbs and the Black Eagle. Being informed on the 20th that they 

 did not design to winter here and thought it best not to risk any fur- 

 ther detention, he spent a whole night on board one of the ships writ- 

 ing up his journals and dispatches to friends at home. 



The letters of Captain Kilmer written at this time show his deep 

 interest in the friend whom he was leaving, and gave practical proof 

 of it by advising him of a deposit of provisions and stores made for 

 him on shore. Hall notes Ou-e-la's honesty in keeping for him a num- 



