National Republican., 1883-10-16
A GREAT ARCTIC RIVER
Explored by the OHcers OF the Revenue
steamer Coryvin.

M. s. Healy, captain of tho steamer Corwin,
has submitted q report from st. Michaels,
A. r., covering in detail the last cruise Of
that vessel TO the Arctic regions, in which he
says: "Being desirous of ascertaining the
exact locality and extent of n large river re-
ported by the natives to debouch in Hotham
inlet, | availed myself of Ensign G.. NJ.
Stoney's better knowledge of surveying, and
his desire to make such examination with
view to Interior explorations should the result
of preliminary expedition warrant them.
placed the dingey, with two men armed and
equipped with ten days rations, under his
command, and landed him at Holman inlet
July 90 with instructions to report on board
Mt the expiration of ten days.
"He reports that leaving the native village
on Hotham inlet, under the guidance of
native from the interior, and well acquainted
on the river, he made for the river marked
on the chart. Arriving there he found it to
be small and very shallow, not worth ex-
ploring. Thence he proceeded some twenty.
three miles along the northeastern shore of
Hotham inlet. Here he struck the mouth of
another river of considerable size, which the
native said was ono of the outlets of larger
river. Ascending this branch in south
easterly direction for two days he struck
the main stream, which proves TO be river
fully three-quarters of mile in width,
/
half fathoms Of water, deepening at
times to seven fathoms. He ascended
the river distance of fifty miles from
its mouth The banks generally were
steep and thickly timbered with birch, alder,
and spruce some of tho trees attaining
height of forty. feet with twelve inches
diameter at the base. Back from the river
banks the underground formed an mpassable
jungle, particularly where the banks wero
low. The current was strong at the bends,
reaching the rate of two knots per hour.
The natives report that tho river held its
depth of not less than two fathoms and its
width of a half mile for not less than 300
miles beyond where Mr.. Stoney turned back.
1t was further stated by tho natives that by
making a small portage near the head of this
! river they could reach another stream flow
| ing northward into the Polar sea- Mr.. Stoney,
| having gone as far as time permitted, retraced
his steps to the mouth of the main stream,
which, with two other branches, forms tho
delta on the north side of Hotham inlet.
Everywhere the natives were kind, harmless,
and hospitable. many of them evidently hav-
ing never seen awhite man before The heat
was intense, vegetation rank, and the natives
scantily clad"
Capt. Healy also says: "Thus far on our
cruise nothing has been seen to show that
either liquor or breech loading arms have
been landed on the American side by traders
or others, while quite tho reverse is the case
on the Siberian Shores"
Capt. Healy also submits q report by Lieut..
w. L. Reynolds, who hastily explored the
large lagoon that lies back from the beach
south OF Cape Seppings. Tho lagoon has an
average width of about two miles, though the
flats on the eastern side are exposed in many
places at low tide. Striking right across from
the mouth of the lagoon, the explorers found
an entrance to small river, up which they
proceeded about five miles, when the current
became SO strong that they could not stem il
without using the oars, Owing to their
limited time, they were unable to follow the
stream but two miles further. Tracks Of
foxes and deer were found to be numerous
Lieut. Reynolds concludes his report by say
ing that, were it not for the shoal water al
the entrance the lagoon would furnish an
excellent harbor for small ships, such as visit
the Arctic, and recommends that the lagoon
be named after the steamer Corwin.