EBIERBING AND TOOKOOLITO. 



157 



me to the States. The man's name was Ebierbing — otherwise 

 called by us "Joe" — his wife's, Tookoolito, or "Hannah." 



I was informed that this couple had been taken to England 

 in 1853, and presented to her majesty Queen Victoria, and that 

 the female was a remarkably intelligent, and what might be called 

 an accomplished woman. They had remained nearly two years 

 in Great Britain, and were every where well received. I heard, 

 moreover, that she was the sister of To-to and Ee-noo-loo-a-pik, 

 both celebrated in their country as great travelers and intelligent 

 men, and the latter well known in England from his visit there 

 in 1839, and from a memoir of him published by Surgeon Mac- 

 donald, of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition. Ebierbing was a 

 good pilot for this coast, and had brought Captain Parker's ship 

 through the channels, as already narrated. At the time of the 

 gale, when my boat and the Rescue were wrecked, he was up in 

 Northumberland Inlet, and also lost a boat of his own. 



When I visited Captain Parker "Joe" was not on board, nor 

 did I know much of him until the above particulars were furnish- 

 ed to me. I was, therefore, naturally anxious to see this couple, 

 and looked forward to our meeting with much hope that it would 

 prove not only pleasing, but useful in many ways. The first in- 

 terview I had is recorded in my journal as follows : 



"November 2, 1860. While intently occupied in my cabin, writ- 

 ing, I heard a soft, sweet voice say ' Good morning, sir.' The 

 tone in which it was spoken — musical, lively, and varied — instant- 

 ly told me that a lady of refinement was there, greeting me. I 

 was astonished. Could I be dreaming ? Was it a mistake ? No ! 

 I was wide awake, and writing. But, had a thunder-clap sound- 

 ed on my ear, though it was snowing at the time, I could not 

 have been more surprised than I was at the sound of that voice. 

 I raised my head : a lady was indeed before me, and extending 

 an ungloved hand. 



"Of course, my welcome to such an unexpected visitor in these 

 regions was as befitting as my astonished faculties for the mo- 

 ment could make it. The doorway in which she stood leads 

 from the main cabin into my private room. Directly over this 

 entrance was the skylight, admitting a flood of light, and thus re- 

 vealed to me crinoline, heavy flounces, an attenuated toga, and an 

 immensely expanded ( kiss-me-quick' bonnet, but the features I 

 could not at first make out. 



" ' Coming events cast their shadows before them.' Ladies are 



