168 THE AMERICAN MAINLAND 



along the whole length of Dease Strait, discovering 

 and naming Victoria Land, reaching Beaufort River 

 beyond Cape Alexander, and sighting an open sea to 

 the eastward. From here, in 106 3', the return began ; 

 and by many devices and the unfailing skill of McKay 

 and Sinclair, the two boats were taken up the Copper- 

 mine stream, falls and rapids and all, to the nearest 

 point to Fort Confidence, where they were hauled up 

 in readiness for next year. 



On the 22nd of June, 1839, the boats again left for 

 the sea ; and they were run down to Bloody Fall with- 

 out a stoppage in eleven hours. Again there were 

 fourteen all told in them, but this time one of the men 

 was Ooglibuck, who had come specially from Ungava in 

 Labrador, in the wonderful time of three months less 

 eight days, to join the expedition which was to meet 

 with great success and accomplish an Arctic boat 

 journey of over sixteen hundred statute miles. 



Entirely blocked until the 3rd of July, and hindered 

 by ice difficulties all the way, the boats did not reach 

 the previous year's farthest until the 28th of July. 

 On the llth of August, through an outlet only three 

 miles wide, they passed into the much-desired eastern 

 sea. " That glorious sight," says Simpson, after whom 

 the strait is named, " was first beheld by myself from 

 the top of one of the high limestone islands, and I had 

 the satisfaction of announcing it to some of the men 

 who, incited by curiosity, followed me thither. The 

 joyful news was soon conveyed to Mr. Dease, who was 

 with the boats at the end of the island, about half a 

 mile off." On the continent and on King William 

 Land, where Franklin's men were in time coming to 



