The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-05-24


and his brave companions if they had not found the
Esquimaux and got their skin canoe, il Is eviden,
they never could have reached Cape Barrow: and
many other similar expeditions might set oui with
out one Of them obtaining the same success
HUDSON Ray COMPANY,s ARCTIC
DISCOVERY EXPEDITION.
The lively interest which the British public have
for sneh length of time manifested in the further
discovery ofihc Arctic regions induced the Hud,,ns
Bay Company 10 determine on equippng an expe-
dition Of their own expense, and composed of their
own officers and servants with view Of cndeavor-
ing to complete the survey of the northern shores of
the American continent.
The formation and equipment Of the expedition
were entrusted to Mr. Simpson, The resident cover
nor, in the spring Of 1886. That gentleman ON his
arrival from England, at Norway House, Lake Win
nipeg, in the month OF june of the same year. beat
tive and enterprising leaders, Messrs p W. Deasc
and Thomas Simpson, and twelve men were imme-
diately selected and forwarded with the necessary
supplies to Fort .Chipewayan, Athabasca Lake,
where they passed the winter of 1886 and 1897
Immediately after the opening Of the navigation on
the LIST June 1887, the party started from Fort Chipe-
wayan in two small boats which Ihey had construct
ed IN the course Of the winter descended The Slave
River, passed the western end Of Great Slave Lake
where they were detained several days by ice and
descended Mackenzie's River TO Fort Norman where
they arrived on the LIST of July. From Fort Norman
they despatched two of their party, with two other
of Great Bears Lake. for the purpose of erecting
small establishment at which they might take up
their quarters for the following winter and Of lay
ing up a stock OF provisions preparatory TO an ex
tension OF their survey in the summer of 1888
These arrangements being made Messrs. Dease and
Simpson, with the remainder of their people form
ing party OF twelve in all, continued their route
down the Mackenzie and reached Fort Good Hope
the most northern establishment belonging 10 The
company, on the 4h, where they found an assem-
blagc OF Hare and Loucheoux Indians from whom
they learned that the Esquimaux had killed three of
their party short time previous which prevented
ihe discoveries taking an interpreter from that tribe
On the 9th of July, they reached the ocean by the
most westerly mouth of The Mackenzie, making It's
situation in lat 6S deg. 40 min % sec M. long 1876
deg 36 min. As sec. W. They had proceeded but
short distance 10 seaward when party Of 10 Esau-
went off to them from Trent Island who show
ed disposition TO be troublesome, but returned to
their encampment when they found the party pre-
pared to defend themselves If necessary. The pro-
gress OF the party along the coast was very slow,
owing to frequent distractions from ice cold dense
fogs and strong head winds On the afternoon Of
the l1th, they reached Point Kay, where they found
another encampmer of Esquimaux; and where they
were detained BY a compact body of ice occupying
Philips Bay until the 18th. They continued their
route till the l7th when an. unbroken pack Of ice
extending TO seward made them seek the shore in
Camden Bay, near large camp Of Esquimaux who
received them kindly. In the afternoon there ap-
peared narrow passage Of water through the ice,
ed, but had not proceeded above three miles from the
land when the ice suddenly closed in upon them
squeezing one of their boats which, with their pro-
visions and baggage they hadmuch difficulty in Saw
ing; and by means OF portages from one piece OF
ice to another the oars serving bridges they final
ly got on large foe, where they passed an incle-
ment and anxious night.
On the 10Th they reached Foggy Island Bay, when
they were stopped by ice and violent north east
wind until the 23d, having on the preceding day
made an Intellectual aempto weather Point Ankle
ty, in which they narrowly escaped with thorough
drenching. The latitude ashore was 70 deg. min
AZ Sec From this situation they had the satisfaction
of discovering range of the Rocky Mountains to
the westward Of the Romonzof chain, and moi seen
by Sir John Franklin, but being within the limit Of
his survey, called it the Franklin Range, as Just
tribute to his character and merits That evening
they reached Sir John Franklin's Return Reef
where their survey commenced, that officer having
got no farther Return Reef is one of a chain Of
reefs which run for twenty miles parallel 10 the
coast, at the distance Of about half league afford
ing sufficient water within for their small craft
The main land is very low. From Point Berens. to
Cape Halleu it forms Harrison's Bay, fifly miles
broad, by about third of that distance in depth At
the bottom oil this bay another picturesque branch Of
the Rocky Mountains Range rears lis loftv peaks
above these nat shores, which they named Pey's
Mountains in honor of the governor of the comma
ny. Al their base flows Colville's River two miles
broad a. i,s mouih 70 inc southwest of which stands
Cape Halkett, where they were detained BY a north
east gale the whole of the following day The coun.
try extending to the foot of the mountain, appeared
TO consist of plains covered with short grass and
moss, favorite resort Of reindeer, of which they
saw numerous herds. Observations were obtained
determining Cape Halkett 10 be in lat. 70 deg As
min. N, long, 1852 deg Ia min. W.. the variation Of
the compass 43 deg 8 min. 80 sec. L.
Next morning, 26th July, they passed the Gany, a
river about one mile broad
From Cape Halkett the coast turned suddenly of
to the w. N. w. 1t presented 10 the eye nothing
but succession Of low banks of frozen mud. In
the evening they passed the mouths of large stream
.The different rivers, capes, and other remarkable
objects between Franklins Return Reef and Beechey's
Cape Barrow, named by Mcssrs Dease and Simp.
after the Governor and Directors Of the Hudsons
Bay Company, and other gentlemen connected with the
fur trade