The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-15
IN CANADIAN WlLDS /,
David T. Hamburg, an Englishman,
Penetrated the Arctic Coast and
Lived Among Eskimos.
Principal Mineral Discoveries Cop.
per and Iron-Vast Tracts Des-
titute of Vegetation.
Special to Tho Journal.

Winnipeg, Man., Dec. lo.--DaFu L.
| Hamburg, we'll known Englishman, has
| for some years been engaged in work as
an explorer in the northern Canadian
wilds. and the result of his trip will add
greatly to the knowledge Of that part or
| the world. Mr.. Hamburg gives the Royal
Geographical society Of England the bene-
fit of his work, and detailed account of
the trip may be expected to appear In
the journals Of that body shortly.
II left Edmonton in February, 1901,
he said in an interview last evening, "and
went north by the usual route to the great
Slave lake. After leaving the lake l
went over the height Of land and struck
| Lake Campbell, which is a long, narrow
body of water. Out of this lake flows
the west branch of the Ark E-Leenik
| river, which we followed for about 120
miles, until we reached the confluence
with the main branch. Along the first
| portion of the route followed there are no
trees, except for the last fifty miles.
where there is a sprinkling Of small
bush, which keeps on increasing IN size
| until belt Of fair-siZed timber, In some
places of considerable thickness. is found
near the junction with the main river.
Back from the river, both north and
SOUTH are what are called the barren
lands, treeless vistas of moss covered
ground whose only inhabitants are the
wild beasts and still wilder Eskimo say
ages.
Grass, Moss and Rocks.
I'm some places we found grass about
two Or two and half feet high In
other places there was nothing but moss,
and again there were parts where there
was bare rock only. This country bears
strong evidence of the glacial period, as
rocks are plainly marked where the an
cient ice fields rubbed and marked the
stone. The direction Of the movement OF
SOuthA9 SterlV a general
course, but there are places where mark
ings show deviation.
About the time we were nearing the
junction Of the two rivers we came across
thousands of cariboo, but they were the
only game we saw. After entering the
main river I proceeded along it to Ches-
| terfield inlet, where a Whaler was await.
ing me with my winters supplies.
spent the winter months with the Eski
mos in their villages Of snowhouses, or
as they call them, igloos, which, by the
way, are very comfortable. About Feb
ruary I left winter quarters, and tool
with me five Eskimos families. The part!
, of natives comprised twenty-five persons
The supplies were carried by dog trair
} and the "1uskies'' of the string mum
bered twenty-five dogs.
you may be surprised when I say
took five families, but an Eskimo will no
go away without his two or more wives
, and the women naturally refuse to leav'
2 their children. We proceeded west abou
e half way to the great Slave lake, ant
t there headed north. The country afte
. we passed through the wooded parts along
4 the river bottoms was almost destitute
= of vegetation except for MOSES and IL
places little grass.
!, Saw Their Fra White Man.
q At Ogden Bay on the Arctic coast w
met with more Eskimo who spoke diff
\ ferent language to the ones had brough
: with me. + may say that I was a grea
curiosity among this new tribe, as
+ was the first white man they had eve
seen. These people were a kind LOT
but very timid. Their ideas of moralit
were very dull. I presented them wit
knives, thinbles and needles, which the
appreciated. much. Their spear and ar
row heads were all made of copper, whic
i abounds in it's native state In that coun
try. rtL...
AFTER leaving Ogden bay We proceede
I west on the Ice. which was still good,
the Coppermine river, which we ,ascende
with much difficulty, owing to shoals an
rapids, for about 100 miles, where agai
we encountered trees along the bank {
the river. At this point we quit the rive
and struck west across the divide, and al
rived at Great Bear lake. -
i Four Days Without Food
n | Ine only real narQSnlp OF the TIL
n was encountered here for we were abou
v four days without food. After we ono
left the Great Bear lake and passe
n through the Great Bear river and arrive
O at the Mackenzie river, we virtually cor
g sidered ourselves at home.
It my principal mineral discoveries we1
# the copper in the north and also som
e iron. But I was very much surprised
v capture forty different varieties Of but
# terflies, which I am taking home to
friend, who is an enthusiast in thu
IS line"
Is Mr.. Hamburg leaves for England in
2. few days.