Sunday, 5 October 1952
We had a heavy blizzard a few days ago with a total of some 8 inches of snow, which is staying on the ground. We were finally paid for August and September yesterday, so it was possible to send home $300.00 more by money order for the savings account.
Ted Hancox, the RCAF medic, went out on leave, so I have been holding "sick parade" for the Eskimos every day at 1:00 pm, and providing medical care for the RCAF and USAF detachments here.
The new RCMP, Van Norman is a tall, shy, nice looking young fellow, who has been at Pond Inlet up on the northern end of Baffin Island. He has been teaching me a few Eskimo phrases, and has temporarily loaned me a small pamphlet on the Eskimo language, written by a missionary in the Little white River country (west of Labrador) about 1883. It is a difficult language, with extremely complex verbs. The former Mountie was with the Eskimos for six years, and still felt he did not know the language well.
Van told an interesting story of the Eskimo tale of the origin of man. A woman bred by a male dog produced four pups – brown, white, grey, and black. The pups grew up and turned into men of the Indian, Caucasian, Eskimo, and Negroid races. These people on Baffin Island claim they killed a race of giant Eskimos in their sleep in a battle for the land. These people had presumably been driven north by the Indians.
I was able to trade a carton of cigarettes sent by the folks for a ring carved from walrus ivory. It may be possible to get over to the Hudson Bay Co. early in the coming week to get some ivory and possible furs.
Sunday, 12 October 1952
The week was somewhat busier than previously. What with the absence of Ted Hancox, RCAF medic, on leave and the patients at Fraser Brace, things have been busy. Eskimo sick parade is quite a lot of fun. One Fraser-Brace man was flown out with their aid man with possible appendicitis. Another bruised himself considerably during a 15 foot fall onto some rocks.
There has also been an influx of merchant marine and navy men. This was the result of the tanker, Wacissa, going on the rocks. When the tide is out she sits high in the air. A Navy salvage crew is at work attempting to re-float her before the ice closes in. A group of aircraft technicians has also arrived and is repairing the nose of the cracked-up C-54.
Luck came my way in the acquisition of three nice ivory rings by trading cigarettes with the Eskimos, and by purchasing two small seal heads, one walrus head, a nice cribbage board (all done in ivory), and a winter fox skin at the Hudson Bay Co. store. This required a six mile walk over the boulders on the ocean’s floor while the tide was out. (Speak of the Israelites fleeing Egypt!). It was a cold walk, but worth it, and the total cost was only $32.00. Walrus ivory is now worth $.70 per pound and the two tusks from one big walrus would be worth about $4.00.
The weather has been running between 10º and 15º F, and there is much snow on the ground.
Radio Moscow has been broadcasting a verbatim translation of George Molenkov’s speech to the communist congress now convening in Moscow. Their statistics on the US economy seem correct but their conclusions are erroneous.
Saturday, 18 October 1952
The snow is clinging to the ground, and the weather continues to stay below freezing. We continued to help out with treatment of the Eskimos and also saw a number of merchant marine and Fraser-Brace people. The Navy salvage team finally got the damaged Wacissa off the rocks.
Van Norman gave me the pelts from two baby white seals. They have been washed with soap and water, and most of the odor is gone. Two more ivory rings were also acquired, one of which has two small seal heads carved on it. One ring cost $2.00, and the other one carton of chesterfield "king-sized" cigarettes.
Last night the Canadians gave a big dinner for the Eskimo men, and afterwards the women came up for a dance, which was characterized by Scottish reels. Possibly these were learned from Scotch whalers or from missionaries. It was quite a spectacle to see the young couples dancing in the center of a hot, smoke-filled room, while the older folks and younger women with children in their parkas stood around the sides and clapped and stomped. They kept on their sealskin boots and heavy clothing. The mixed odor of sealskin and sweating bodies was something not to be forgotten soon.
They are preparing to go on the trail for the winter hunting season soon. Two men and two boys were lost while hunting seals, and part of the week was spent in an intensive, but unrevealing search for them. Tonight the women will be weeping in the village, for they value men highly as food-getters. Apparently they have no formal marriage ceremony. There is some dickering between families, then a couple starts living together. If things go well and children arrive, it is a marriage.
Sunday, 26 October 1952
The week started off slowly. But then Tuesday evening 45 men left by plane for CONUS, leaving Lt. Harvey and four men, Sgt. Rudd and me here at Frobisher Bay. We scurried around getting them out. Colonel Kontor had replied to my TWX ordering "Captain" Morton (undoubtedly an error) to remain at Frobisher until the final increment of troops departs.
The rest of the week was rather quietly spent reading recent magazine issues, which arrived en masse, seeing Eskimo, Fraser Brace, and Army patients, etc. About 39 TC men arrived, which was probably the factor which clinched our staying on here.
The ice is increasing rapidly on the bay. Reportedly there are 4 – 6 inches of cakes of ice out several hundred yards from shore. Most of this is formed by fresh water streams opening into the harbour. It was expected to get down to zero last night. The sun rises at about 7:00 am (EST) and sets at about 3:45 pm.
I purchased a nice little ivory kayak, with a removable man, harpoon, oars, and attached killed seal. Also one of the women cured my two baby sealskins for $2.00 and one-half pack of cigarettes.
A large party of USAF Colonels came through today. The medical chief of NEAC seemed interested in keeping a doctor here at all times. After withdrawal of troops, such a necessity would seem unlikely to me. At any rate the Air Force should supply its own doctor, but they undoubtedly have their eyes on me. Time will soon tell, however.
Updated: July 29, 2002