224 



SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



1822. ullC omfortable day. His complaint being removed, and the sun shining 

 y^nit bright into the cabin, he frequently got up and walked about, casting many 

 a wishful look through the windows, and expressing great anxiety to go on 

 deck, which however Mr. Edwards would not permit him to do. He had 

 indeed by this time learned to entertain no inconsiderable degree of super- 

 stitious reverence for that gentleman's directions, probably of the same 

 nature as those with which Ewerat might have inspired him in similar cases; 

 and he was therefore induced, without difficulty, to give up the thoughts of 

 going on deck. He would then lie down again, and continue muttering to 

 himself in a low tone of voice for an hour together, repeatedly men- 

 tioning the name of his son, whom we fancied he wished to have with him. 

 It was therefore no less a relief to us than to him when, in the evening 

 some of the natives arrived, bringing with them a piece of fine venison 

 which, as we were informed, they had been to a considerable distance to 

 fetch, it being part of a store concealed under a heap of stones the pre- 

 ceding autumn. Okotook was once more happy when his friends arrived, 

 willingly admitted them to his bed-side, and talked for two hours with 

 great curiosity and interest of what had been going on at the huts during 

 his absence. We had occasion to remark that, from some superstitious no- 

 tion, Okotook would on no account permit the other young men to drink out 

 of the same cup with himself : the objection lying wholly on his side, it 

 had evidently no relation to any idea of contagion. Toolooak slept on the 

 same bed with our patient, and the others were comfortably lodged on the 

 lower deck. 



Frid. 3. On the following morning we found that our invalid was determined no 

 longer to suffer his present confinement, and that he had settled with his 

 companions that he should accompany them on their return. His original 

 complaint being entirely removed, and nothing remaining but debility, 

 Mr. Edwards thought it advisable rather to let him go without objection, than 

 to run any risk of his incurring fresh mental disquietude by remaining on 

 board alone. He was accordingly seated on the sledge, where however they 

 allowed him to remain an hour before they could make it convenient to set 

 out. Previous to his departure he received several useful presents, notwith- 

 standing which, on leaving the ship, he did not say a word as an acknow- 

 ledgment ; and, as he soon after removed to a more distant station, this was 

 the last we saw of Okotook. 



The northern thermometer on the ice stood for a short time to-day, above 40° t 



