Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-04-15
NEW SERIES, NO. 1870.
IEKMS, 400 at the years eud.
English Exploration in the Northwest.

English Exploration in the Northwest.
The settlement of the boundry line between
the British possessions in the Northwest and
the United States-the movement of the Cana
dams for repeal of the Hudsons Bay Com
pany's charter, and the Importance attached to
Vancouver's Island, have created desire
among intelligent Englishmen to become better
acquainted with the countries lying north of the
newly defined frontier. Sir Roderick Nunchi-
son, in au address before the Royal Geographic
cal Sotiety, pointed out q region, including at
least llI2,O square miles, extended from the
head waters of the Assnibone River to the
foot Of the Rocky Mountains, and from the
northern branch of the Saskatchewan to the
49th parallel of latitude, the boundry with the
United States, which had remained almost COM
pletely unexplored.
The immense region, as we learn from the
London Atheneum Mr.. Palliser, one Of those
Nimrods whom Great Britain usually sends out
to such regions, proposed to explore at his own
expense, and applied to the Royal Geographical
Society for advice and information as to what
was desirable to be known. The result
was the council strongly recommended the
government to aid the undertaking, and the
sum of $4,000 was granted, so as to enable Mr..
Palliser to be accompanied by Lieut.. Blackiston,
to conduct the astronomical and physical obser-
vations-Mr. Bourgeau, an experienced botan-
!
island Doctor Hector, who, besides knowl-
edge of his profession, has that of geology and
zoology; The chief objects, of the exploration
were set down as follows
First. To survey the water parting between
the basins of the Missouri and Saskatchewan
also the course of the south branch of the Sas-
katchewan and its tributaries.
Secondly. To explore the Rocky Mountains,
for the purpose of ascertaining the most south
erlv pass across to the Pacific within the Brit
ish territory.
Thirdly, To report on the natural features
and genuine capabilities of the country, and to
construct map of the routes.
The expedition sailed from England on the
9th of May, and after arriving at New York,
proceeded to Lake Superior, which on the llth
of June they found covered with masses OF
floating ice. Proceeding to Fort William by
steamer, they on the 18th of June started in Ca
noes up the White Fish River, where they found
the scenery magnificent, but navigation difficult,
Mr. Palliser's canoe being destroyed by fall
ing tree, and himself narrowly escaping de-
sruction. On the 18th the canoes were sent
down to the mouth of the White Fish river by
Indians, to 60 round to the falls of the Kaka-
baka while the party made their way across
the forests by compass course for the falls,
which journey was accomplished without ma
terial difficulty They arrived at the falls
guided by the loud roar of the waters.
The hight of the falls was measured very
accutely, and proved to be III feet inches
and these falls, although not SO extensive as
those of Niagara, are, according to Mr.. Palli-
ser's correspondence, much wider and higher.
He thinks them much finer than those Of the
American side of the Niagara, which have g. too
much the appearance of an oyergrown mill
DAM"
After completing their observations at this
point, the expedition started on their arduous
canoe journey, in which they met and overcamc
many obstacles natural to the undertaking.
From the Red river they went to Pembina,
where they were last heard from. The further
route was to be to the Saskatchewan river, pre-
vous to winterng at Carlton House fort. The
summer of 1858 is to be employed in trayersing
the country of the Blackfeet Indians between
the northera and southern Saskatchewan, and
in tracing the southern branch up to itssources,
in order to get knowledge of the practicable
passes in the Rocky Mountains, with view to
access to the Pacific, independent of what is
within the American frontier or inconyeniently
to the north on British territory,