CHAPTER 7.
Departure from Chipewyan.
Difficulties of the various Navigations of the Rivers and Lakes, and of
the Portages.
Slave Lake and Fort Providence.
Scarcity of Provisions, and Discontent of the Canadian Voyagers.
Difficulties with regard to the Indian Guides.
Refusal to proceed.
Visit of Observation to the upper part of Copper-Mine River.
Return to the winter quarters of Fort Enterprise.
CHAPTER 8.
Transactions at Fort Enterprise.
Mr. Back's Narrative of his Journey to Chipewyan, and Return.
CHAPTER 9.
Continuation of Proceedings at Fort Enterprise.
Some Account of the Copper Indians.
Preparations for the Journey to the Northward.
CHAPTER 10.
Departure from Fort Enterprise.
Navigation of the Copper-Mine River.
Visit to the Copper Mountain.
Interview with the Esquimaux.
Departure of the Indian Hunters.
Arrangements made with them for our Return.
CHAPTER 11.
Navigation of the Polar Sea, in two Canoes, as far as Cape Turnagain, to
the Eastward, a distance exceeding Five Hundred and Fifty Miles.
Observations on the probability of a North-West Passage.
CHAPTER 12.
Journey across the barren grounds.
Difficulty and delay in crossing Copper-Mine River.
Melancholy and Fatal Results thereof.
Extreme Misery of the whole Party.
Murder of Mr. Hood.
Death of several of the Canadians.
Desolate State of Fort Enterprise.
Distress suffered at that Place.
Dr. Richardson's Narrative.
Mr. Back's Narrative.
Conclusion.
...
INTRODUCTION.
His Majesty's Government having determined upon sending an Expedition
from the Shores of Hudson's Bay by land to explore the Northern Coast of
America from the Mouth of the Copper-Mine River to the eastward, I had
the honour to be appointed to this service by Earl Bathurst, on the
recommendation of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty; who at the
same time nominated Doctor John Richardson, a Surgeon in the Royal Navy,
Mr. George Back, and Mr. Robert Hood, two Admiralty Midshipmen, to be
joined with me in the enterprise. My instructions in substance informed
me that the main object of the Expedition was that of determining the
latitudes and longitudes of the Northern Coast of North America, and the
trending of that Coast from the Mouth of the Copper-Mine River to the
eastern extremity of that Continent; that it was left for me to determine
according to circumstances whether it might be most advisable to proceed
at once directly to the northward till I arrived at the sea-coast, and
thence westerly towards the Copper-Mine River; or advance in the first
instance by the usual route to the mouth of the Copper-Mine River, and
from thence easterly till I should arrive at the eastern extremity of
that Continent; that in the adoption of either of these plans I was to be
guided by the advice and information which I should receive from the
wintering servants of the Hudson's Bay Company, who would be instructed
by their employers to cooperate cordially in the prosecution of the
objects of the Expedition, and who would provide me with the necessary
escort of Indians to act as guides, interpreters, game-killers, etc.; and
also with such articles of clothing, ammunition, snowshoes, presents,
etc., as should be deemed expedient for me to take. That as another
principal object of the Expedition was to amend the very defective
geography of the northern part of North America I was to be very careful
to ascertain correctly the latitude and longitude of every remarkable
spot upon our route, and of all the bays, harbours, rivers, headlands,
etc., that might occur along the Northern Shore of North America. That in
proceeding along the coast I should erect conspicuous marks at places
where ships might enter, or to which a boat could be sent; and to deposit
information as to the nature of the coast for the use of Lieutenant
Parry. That in the journal of our route I should register the temperature
of the air at least three times in every twenty-four hours; together with
the state of the wind and weather and any other meteorological phenomena.
That I should not neglect any opportunity of observing and noting down
the dip and variation of the magnetic needle, and the intensity of the
magnetic force; and should take particular notice whether any, and what
kind or degree of, influence the Aurora Borealis might appear to exert on
the magnetic needle; and to notice whether that phenomenon were attended
with any noise; and to make any other observations that might be likely
to tend to the further development of its cause and the laws by which it
is governed.
Mr. Back and Mr. Hood were to assist me in all the observations
above-mentioned, and to make drawings of the land, of the natives, and of
the various objects of Natural History; and particularly of such as Dr.
Richardson who, to his professional duties was to add that of naturalist,
might consider to be most curious and interesting.
I was instructed, on my arrival at or near the Mouth of the Copper-Mine
River, to make every inquiry as to the situation of the spot whence
native copper had been brought down by the Indians to the Hudson's Bay
establishment, and to visit and explore the place in question; in order
that Dr. Richardson might be enabled to make such observations as might
be useful in a commercial point of view, or interesting to the science of
mineralogy.
From Joseph Berens, Esquire, the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company,
and the gentlemen of the Committee I received all kinds of assistance and
information, communicated in the most friendly manner previous to my
leaving England; and I had the gratification of perusing the orders to
their agents and servants in North America, containing the fullest
directions to promote by every means the progress of the Expedition. I
most cheerfully avail myself of this opportunity of expressing my
gratitude to these gentlemen for their personal kindness to myself and
the other officers, as well as for the benefits rendered by them to the
Expedition; and the same sentiment is due towards the Gentlemen of the
North-West Company, both in England and America, more particularly to
Simon McGillivray, Esquire, of London, from whom I received much useful
information and cordial letters of recommendation to the partners and
agents of that Company resident on our line of route.
