SICK NUK-EK-TOU. 



185 



in their then wretched state, and throughout the day sundry man- 

 ifestations among our own men were given, aknrto those adopted 

 at home. 



On this day, January 1st, 1861, we had the thermometer — 1°, 

 barometer 29.20, and the weather calm, with light clouds. We 

 did not, therefore, feel the cold as might have been expected, and 

 thus our New Year's Day passed off most agreeably. 



I have now to relate an occurrence that was as startling to me 

 in its terrible yet solemn character as any thing I had ever before 

 known or heard of. 



I have mentioned that another Esquimaux woman, called Nuk- 

 ertou, was found to be very sick, and I therefore determined to 

 again call upon her, taking some medicine, and a little quince 

 jelly that had been given me by loved ones at home. 



I left the ship, and, after crossing some very broken and dan- 

 gerous ice, which formed a sort of unstable and disjointed cause- 

 way, arrived at the village during the morning. I asked Tookoo- 

 lito to accompany me, which she cheerfully did, and together we 

 went to the tupic of Nukertou. She had been left alone in her 

 sickness, all uncared for, as was customary, I regret to say. with 

 the Esquimaux when any of them were helplessly ill. 



The poor woman was very glad to see me, but she was so weak 

 and suffered so much that she could hardly move. I gave her 

 medicine, which soon relieved her, and for this I received many 

 thanks ; but I thought her end near. I could see by her wasted 

 form and utter prostration that she had not long to live. Per- 

 haps, had she received such early attention from her own people 

 as is shown among families in civilized life, she might have sur- 

 vived ; but from no one did she get this, and only by chance did 

 her illness reach my ears. 



I have before mentioned her kindly nature, ever ready to do 

 any thing she could for all of us on board without looking for fee 

 or reward, and, so long as she had strength, she was to be seen at 

 some friendly task ; but her absence was not particularly noticed, 

 owing to the fact that Innuits are of a character so thoroughly in- 

 dependent that they come and go just as they please. 



On the present occasion, Nukertou was living in an igloo occu- 

 pied by Shimerarchu (Johnny Bull), with his wife Koherzhun, and 

 her little sister Kimmiloo. The latter came in while I was speak- 

 ing to Nukertou, and when Tookoolito left, the girl showed much 

 attention to her. 



