In 1852-3 he became blind through an epidemic that took off very many of the natives. His second child also died; and the third, born in 1856, was an interesting girl called Koo-koo-yer.
Nikujar continued with her poor blind husband for five years after his affliction, and they were always attentive and kind to each other. But, as he was unable to work, she accepted the offer of Ugarng to become his principal or family, that is, household wife. She took with her the little girl Koo-koo-yer, and Ugarng became partial to it, and as he was a bold, successful hunter, generally contrived to provide for all his household, and even many more, without stint. "George," though greatly attached to his child, knew it was for her advantage to be with her mother, and thus allowed her to go, though occasionally seeking for her company with him.
I shall frequently speak of this afflicted Innuit in my narrative, and therefore have mentioned these particulars.
Another person to be referred to here is Kok-er-jab-in, the widow of Kudlago. She was born at Kar-mo-wong, on north side of Hudson's Straits, probably about the year 1814. She had had three husbands, the first being a tall, stout man, called Koo-choo-ar-chu ("Sampson"), by whom she had one son, Ning-u-ar-ping. But this husband she left because he added another woman to his household. Her second husband was An-you-kar-ping, a fine, powerful man. He was lost by the upsetting of his ki-a.[1] When the ki-a was found it was broken into fragments, and it is thought by the Innuits that he had attacked a hooded seal, which, in return, ferociously attacked and destroyed him and his boat. By this husband she had one son, often mentioned in my journal as "Captain." Her third husband was Kudlago, who had also been previously married to a woman named Ne-ve-chad-loo, by whom two daughters, Kok-er-zhun and Kim-mi-loo, were born to him. The first of these was a pretty young woman, aged twenty-
- ↑ The Greenland term for a boat or canoe containing one man is Ky-ack, but among the Innuits I was acquainted with Ki-a is the word, and such I henceforth use.
