CHAPTER X. 



BACK'8 LAND EXPEDITION. ARRIVAL AT FORT WILLIAM. ANECDOTE O 



A CANOE PARTY. FRANKLIN. SCENERY. ASCENT OP RITERS. 



AYLMER LAKE. WINTER QUARTERS. STARVING INDIANS. INTENSH 



COLD. NEWS OP ROSS'S SAFETY. EXPERT CANOE-MAN. ESQUIMAUX 

 FRIENDS. THE THLEW-EE-CHOH. THE POLAR SEA. RETURN TO ENG- 

 LAND BACK'S VOYAGE IN THE TERROR. PEMARKABLE PERILS AMOST9 



THE ICE. HOMEWARD BOUND. DBASE AND SIMPSON'S DISCOVERIES. 



Ross's protracted stay of four years in the inhospita- 

 ble north induced the government to send out an expe- 

 dition to look for the absent party. Back, who was 

 then in Italy, hurried home to volunteer his services ; his 

 offer was accepted ; and with Dr. King, surgeon and 

 naturalist, he left England in February, 1833. At Mon- 

 treal he engaged three artillery-men and some voya- 

 geurs, and embarked on the St. Lawrence in two canoes. 

 At the Sault de Ste Mary, on the llth of May, they pur- 

 chased a third canoe, and commenced coasting along 

 the northern shores of Lake Superior. On the 20th 

 they arrived at the Hudson's Bay Company's establish- 

 ment, Fort William. 



Passing the height of land which separates the waters 

 which flow into Lake Superior from those which enter 

 Hudson's Bay, the three canoes proceeded rapidly on 

 their ever-changing and romantic route, at times dash- 

 ing down rapids, then crossing small lakes, or making 

 slow progress along small and shallow rivers, so that 

 portages were often necessary. 



