166 THE AMERICAN MAINLAND 



thence, in the winter, making his way to Fort Chippe- 

 wyan, a journey of 1277 miles, joining Dease there 

 more than a month before he was expected. Two 

 boats were built, light clinker craft of 24 ft. keel and 

 6 ft. beam, adapted for shallow navigation by their 

 small draught, both alike and honoured with the 

 classical names of the heavenly twins, Castor and 

 Pollux, each boat provided with a small oiled canvas 

 canoe and portable wooden frame. Of one, the steers- 

 man was the redoubtable James McKay " Pull your 

 starboard oar 1 " -and of the other, George Sinclair, 

 Back's bowman ; and one of the bowmen was Felix, 

 who had been with Franklin in 1826. All told, the 

 expedition numbered fourteen. 



Leaving Fort Chippewyan on the 1st of June, 1837, 

 they reached Bear Lake River on the 3rd of July, and 

 six days afterwards were out on the sea. On the 23rd 

 of July they camped at Return Reef, that is to say 

 they had traversed the whole extent of Franklin's 

 survey in a fortnight, and not without danger from 

 the ice and losing much time by doubling the floes, 

 however far they extended seawards. Once Simpson's 

 boat, which was of course leading, was only saved from 

 destruction by throwing out everything it contained 

 upon the floating masses. By means of portages made 

 from one fragment to another, the oars forming the 

 perilous bridges, and after repeated risks of boats, men, 

 and baggage being separated by the motion of the ice, 

 they succeeded with much labour in collecting the 

 whole equipment on one floe, which, being covered 

 with water, formed a sort of wet dock. There they 

 hauled up the boats, momentarily liable to be over- 



