160 THE AMERICAN MAINLAND 



explore the Great Slave Lake, whence Drummond had 

 started on his journey among the Rockies ; and, being 

 unable to get away till another winter had passed, 

 both Franklin and Richardson landed in England in 

 September, 1827, after an important and fruitful ex- 

 pedition that had no death-roll. 



Back was again in these regions in 1833 on his 

 expedition in search of Sir John Ross. Reaching the 

 Great Slave Lake, he built Fort Reliance at its north- 

 eastern corner and began the long winter there on the 

 5th of November. Soon afterwards Akaitcho put in 

 an appearance, and expressed his intention which he 

 did his best to fulfil of being of as much assistance 

 as he could ; and later on Augustus made his way 

 across country to offer his services, but, either exhausted 

 by suffering and privation, or caught in a snowstorm, 

 he died alone near the Riviere a Jean. 



Temperatures ranging from 50 to 70 minus were of 

 frequent occurrence, and, on one occasion Back, after 

 washing his face within a yard of the fire, had his hair 

 clotted with ice before he had time to dry it. Every 

 animal was driven away from the neighbourhood by 

 the cold, except a solitary raven which swept once 

 round the house and then winged his flight to the 

 westward. On the 25th of April a messenger arrived 

 at the fort with the news of the safe return of Sir 

 John Ross to England, but Back determined to pro- 

 ceed with the journey for exploring purposes, taking 

 one boat instead of two, and, with Richard King the 

 surgeon, and eight men, he started for the Great Fish 

 River on the 8th of July. 



The voyage was a hazardous and adventurous one. 



