The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-08-09
Captain Frankin'S Expedition.
18th September, 1925, Lat 65 11N.2

18th September, 1895, Lat. 65 II NJ
Lon. 1873 33 w.
My Dear Sir-l do most heartily con-
graduate you on the prospect we had
from Garry's Island, of perfectly open
sea, without particle of ice, as it is
another step gained in confirmation of
your much contested hypothesis. We
saw nothing to stop the ships; but, on
the contrary, every thieg around us
strengthened my hope Of their effecting
the passage. The Indians, indeed, have
report that, between the Mackenzs
and Copper Mine Rivers, there is a
point which stretches far TO the north
ward, which is generally surrounded
with ice. If this be true, the ships
think will not be altogether stopped,
provided they have been enabled TO get
at the main shore TO the eastward from
Regents Inlet. No Indian, however,
with whom | have spoken, on my recent
visit TO the sea, can speak of this point,
or of the obstruction, from his own OBJ
servailon; and The report seems, like
many others current among them, TO
i'"'o ,~ssnd from, Gan o 10 ton tn renera-
ton which, at the first, had but little
ground 10 stand upon. The Indians, in
fact, know nothing of the coast, the
knowledge of the sea shore being en-
tirely confined 10 the Esquimaux, with
whom we have not as yet had any COM
munication. They are employed, dur
ing the summer, in catching whales,
and in other marina pursuits, 10 the
eastward Of the Mackenzie, to which,
believe, they return in the winter
Their neighbors, the quarrellers Of
! Mackenzie, CT the Lancheose of the
traders, resemble them very much in
appearance, dress and manner; and
many of the Esquimaux words, which
Augustus understood, were in use a.
mong them; but, as is too often the
case with the neighboring tribes of
these aborigines, they are almost always
at war with each other. Fortunately
for Us, however, terms of peace were
settled last summer between them and
the Esquimaux, which we shall, of
course, endeavor to strengthen, if we
meet them together. The quarrellers
were quite delighted at seeing Angus
tus with us, and assured US there would
be no fear of the Esqulmaux receiving
us in hostile manner, as they had al
ready been apprized by them Of our in
tention 10 visit their lands; and the rea-
son for our doing so could be more fully
explained by him than they could do.
We saw many moose and reindeer,
and large f1ocks of geese and swans at
the mouth of The river; which, no
doubt, are 10 be found on its low shores
during the whole Of the warm season,
and probably the animals retire TO the
woods in the winter, which are not far
distant from the coast. The long track
of alluvlal ground, which is passed in
the descent of the Mackenzie, is well
covered with pines. even as high as 68
"a north, which afford good shelter for
any animals.
The Rocky Mountain range is seen
through nearly the whole course of The
river, after passing the south branch of
the Mackenzie, at no great distance
from its banks, running in about W.
N. W. true direction; but they do not
appear SO high as had been led 10 ex-
pect till you reach the sea, and then
they attain an immense elevation, and
seem TO form the sea coast 10 the vest
ward. We shall probably pass very
near them next summer, and be able TO
give some account of them. If a judy
nent might be formed from a very dis
tant view of two or three Of the high
est peaks, from their shape and appear
ance, | should suppose them 10 be vol
canic. On Garry's Island we found
plenty of coal and biiumen, embodied in
the black earth of which it is composed.
can assure you have more than once
wished the expedition could transport
some of the fine limestone cliffs that
bound the river TO the vicinity of the
Thames we might then soon be en-
rlched, by contracting not only 10 sup
ply the material for the New London
bridge, but also to satisfy the present
rage for building, at very cheap rate.
We are now 10 the very hustle of tin-
lshing our own buildings; which, how
ever, are not Of stone, as you may sup
pose, but of wood. The house is stu
ated close TO the borders Of the lake,
for The convenience of the fishery,
which is 10 be our main support, though
we hope 10 catch few reindeer, on
their march 10 the south next month.
My land friends, during my absence,
have named the house Fort franklin
which, at their solicitation, have per-
mitted TO stand, or intended 10 have
given ii the name of Reliance.
We were Just six months from the
time of leaving Liverpool, till our arriv-