The Howgate Preliminary Arctic Expedition Part 2″

In the spring the disadvantages of Tyson's choice of wintering harbour became apparent. His ship was firmly locked in the grip of the ice, while the ships which had wintered closer to the mouth of the sound had been released from their harbours and were already whaling. By the time the Florence was free, there was no time for whaling.

When the ship left harbour it carried 10 Inuit (four men, two women and four children) who had agreed to relocate to Ellesmere Island. They were: Nepeken and his family, Etetun and his family, a man nicknamed Chummy, and Alokee.

We don't know a lot about these people. From these and other sources, we know that Nepeken had worked for other whalers, and apparently successfully, for Captain Keeny of the Isabella had given him a whaleboat as a reward for his services the year before. He was about 45 to 48 years of age and had adopted or been given the name "Tyson."

The real Tyson explained: "When the ships first commenced to winter in the gulf, some twenty-five years ago, the captains who hired the Esquimaux – and they all did so – finding it difficult to recollect their native cognomens, would give them English names; as, Tom, Charley, Dick, or Harry, and others, again, which were not quite so euphonious to the ear. This youngster, whose real name was Nepeken, was baptized Tyson; I know not for what reason, unless it was because he was so handsome!"

Nepeken was a great hunter – Tyson called him "the Nimrod of the gulf." American captains vied for his services and he was the boss of a boat's crew. His wife was Ocaseakju and she was also "good with the rifle and the spear," being a capable hunter of deer, seal and polar bear.

The couple had two adopted children. One of them was a boy of about five, named Asseewer – probably the Inuit name Aasivak. The whalers had nicknamed him ‘Boatswain'. And Tyson noted, "I know that he can chew and smoke equal to an old tar." He added, "They commence young in this country. I have seen some of the little girls, not older than this boy, chewing and smoking tobacco."

Etetun's wife was Kimikpakjic, called Polly by the whalers. She gave birth to a baby on board the ship on May 1, 1878. We know nothing more about this little family.

Alokee was single and had expressed a desire to get a wife before he left on the expedition. Chummy (whose real name was Shumarpinguter) was apparently single, and trusted Tyson implicitly, having been to the United States for a winter with him in 1861.

The Florence put in to Kekerten on July 16 to pick up skins, and Tyson noted, "We were employed today preparing a place in the vessel's hold for the Esquimaux to live during the passage to Greenland." While there he picked up one more man, three women, and 2 children, making a total of five each of men, women and children ("and I think that will be enough," he noted), along with 30 dogs and a number of sleds. After a quick stop at Blacklead Island, the Florence left for Greenland.

Tyson and the Inuit received a surprise when the small vessel reached Godhavn. The governor had left orders that no-one from the ship should be allowed ashore. Apparently the captain of a Scottish vessel had informed the governor of the impending arrival of the Florence, and said that the Inuit and the crew were all diseased.

Eventually the order was rescinded and a brief visit was made ashore. The Inuit from Baffin Island were fascinated to meet Greenlanders and to visit the local church and school. (It would be almost two decades yet before the first mission was begun in Cumberland Sound.)

The governor had another surprise for Tyson. He had been informed that the expedition to Lady Franklin Bay had been postponed. There would be no ship coming from America to rendezvous with Tyson at Godhavn. Tyson waited for three weeks. Finally he concluded that the report was correct and returned to Cumberland Sound.

On September 2, Tyson discharged his Inuit recruits. "I gave them one boat, four guns, all the remaining ammunition, two opera-glasses, one suit of clothing each, nearly all of the Danish bread we bought at Disco, some little molasses, and one tent," he wrote. Thus the first scheme to relocate Inuit in Canada ended with no result.

Taissumani recounts a specific event of historic interest. Kenn Harper is a historian, writer and linguist who lives in Iqaluit. Feedback? Send your comments and questions to kennharper@hotmail.com.