Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-14
HOW HE LIKED IT.

After his arrival there he found, as
did also his Esquimaux companions who
had visited this country with him, that
it was rather hard at first TO return to
their old habits, but in time he got aceus,
toned tOit.
"Did you eat raw meat, Captain
ooh yes, most of the time We some
times had it cooked, but usually liked it
better raw. You've no idea how good
it is in that way In fact, for that country
raw meat is almost indispensable, though.
| don't think it would hardly do in this
climate"
us it true that the Esquimaux like it
best when it is tainted2'
ayes, and the more so the better
When meat has just been killed, and is
fresh, it isn't near as good; but when it
has got to smell quite bad, and especially
after it has been frozen, then it tastes a
great deal better
Are not the Esquimaux very dirty
people?'
"Well, yes, it must be admitted they
are-but then their mode Of life has much
to do with this. They have great trouble
to get water enough to drink, except on
the sea shore, and the means of Preserv-
ing cleanliness are limited"
"How do you find the change to this
country affects you 2"
"Ohi very much Pm sll upset and
can't do anything steadily. The food is
so different, and there is so much noise
everywhere, and l feel the change in the
air greatly. It's very close and hot here.
Why, when first l got on shipSboaFd to
come home, after being so much in the
open air, could hardly sleep at night,
and l find it hard to do so now"
"What do you think caused the lose Of
Sir John Franklin's company.
"Treachery sir; they were deserted
by the natives and left without fresh
provisions CT means of getting them.
But for this some Of them might have
been saved"
what is the result of your researches
| in relation to Franklin p
briefly this: We have settled be-
yond doubt that Franklin actually dis
covered the Northwestern Passage. On
his previous voyage he had sailed east-
ward as far as Cape Hersehel, and now
we have shown that he reached the same
point going westward, and thus COM
pleted the chain of communication. To
him, therefore, belongs the honor 0
having made the discovery, though
Captain Mcclure has received the re-
wa d offered by the British government
to the person who should succeed in the
effort"
care you satisfied with this result ?''
"Well, yes; considering how much We
did, it is useless to think of how much
more might have been accomplished. II
| the Esuuimaux who went with me haC
not been so timid, or if had had body
of resolute white men to back me,
think might have gone on. We wert
lucky enough to meet with and capture Q
herd of seventy-nine musk oxen anC
seventeen reindeer, which would have
been sufficient provision for month, and
would have allowed US to explore mucf
further, but the Esquimsux were afraid
of some hostile tribes of natives in tbs
vicinity, and sbsolutel y refused to go on.
"Did you have any great obstacles t.
contend WITH
ayes; during the first three years W.
suffered a good deal, but afterward haC
not 80 much trouble.
"Were your compasses at all affected
by your proximity to the North PoleY
"Yes, so much so that for time they
were useless; at one place the variation
was over ninety degrees"
allow about the long season of dark
ness2
"Those we were fortunate in avoiding
by wintering within the line where tn
suns rays are visible all the time"
"Why cannot steam be used for Arcti
exploration
$50 it can. There are large supple
of coal on the west of Greenland, and
think that with steam the entire North
west Passage might be made in a singl
season"