Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-09-30
EXPLORERS RETURN.
Valuable Geographical and Topo-
graphical Data Secured.

With the return of Prof. Ray mond
Mcfarland to Middlebury Monday night
the last of the party of explorers who
left here Aug. IL for trip into the in
terror Of western Labrad' r returned to
their starting point. Professors Thomas
G. Brown and Phelps N. Swett, who
were companions of Professor McFar.
land, returned in time for the opening of
the college. The members of the expe.
dition express themselves as well pleased
with the results of the trip. No accidents
or losses occurred, there was no serious
delays to the progress of the party, and
the professors find themselves in excel
lent physical condition after their ex-
periences in the black forest and on the
big lakes of Canada.
The starting point of their canoe trip
was Pointe Bleue, post of the Hudson's
Bay Company, situated 1873 miles north
of Quebec. At this place it was learned
that the Grindstone river, by which the
trip to the Height-o -of-Land was to be
made, was not navigable at that season
in it's headwaters; accordingly the
ascent was made by the Ch igobiche and
Nikaubau rivers. Passage up these
rivers was made largely by the Indian
guides polling the canoes against the
swift current. For this purpose it. was
necessary to have three canoes and four
guides. The Height of Land was reached
and passed Aug. 81. Two guides were
sent back from this point. North of
the Height Of Land the travellers passed
through a succession of large lakes,
visiting along the route the newly dis
covered gold and copper mining region
of Lake Chibogomo.
The party reached the Mistassinni
Post of the Hudson's Bay Company on
the southern end of Grand Lake Mistas-
sinni Sept. 2. This lake is 101 miles long
and one of the largest Canadian lakes
post on the lake is central point for
the Indians who have their hunting
grounds in the interior of the Labrador
peninsula. In June each year they re-
turn with their families and winters
catch of furs from their inland home to
the trading post where they remain,
generally, until the return trip to the
TO rest is made in September. The furs,
which are from the bear, OTTER martin,
fisher, mink, beaver, lynx, ermine and
muskrat, are exchanged for clothing
provisions and other supplies needed by
the Indian families during the long,
severe winter months. Professors Brown
and Mcfarland succeeded in getting
pictures of the Indians in their summer
quarters and on the trail.
When the party had ascended the
lake about thirty miles for the purpose
of making magnetic oberservations it
was decided that Professors SWEET and
Brown return from that point to make
further magnetic observations and to
study geological formations along the
| Fl le-Axe and Chief rivers. This party,
after securing valuable scientific data
| and experiencing some exciting mo-
ments in the swift apids with deeply
loaded canoe, reached Pointe Bleue safe
ly with canoe trip of 700 miles to their
credit.
In the meantime Professor Mcfarland
continued his travels further into the
interior From Grand Lake Mistassini
he passed, by an unexplored route, into
Little Lake Mistasslni and the regions
to the east and north of this lake.
| The Porcupine Broth river, large
unexplored river flowing from the
northeast, was reached Sept. II and on
the following day Professor Mcfarland,
with his guide, climbed the Porcupine
range of Mountains. This range extends
towards the northeast and is, according
to the Indians who hunt on its slopes,
about 200 miles long. A fine outlook
was had from the mountains and Pro.
fessor Mcfarland secured commanding
view of the country for many miles to
the east and northeast. He took pictures
from this place as well as from many
others along the route Snow was en-.
countered three days and on the morn
ing Of Sept. 10 the mercury fell to 10
degrees. On his return Professor Nc
Farland passed the entire length of
Grand Lake Mistassini which required
four days of hard work at the paddles.
From this lake to Pointe Bleue the dis
tance of 800 miles was covered at the
rate of forty miles day without acci
dent Professor McFarland's canoe trip
lasted forty days and covered route
900 miles in extent.