and of the Vegetation of South America. 115 



tains, towards Pene river. There is here a Mr Macleod, who 

 spent the last five years at Fort Good-Hope, on the Macken- 

 zie River. He informs me that if the natives, with whom he 

 is perfectly acquainted, are fc worthy of credit, there must be a 

 north-west passage. They describe a very large river that 

 runs parallel with the Mackenzie, and falls into the sea near 

 Icy Cape, at the north of which there is an establishment on an 

 island, where ships come to trade. They assert that the peo- 

 ple there are very wicked, having hanged several of the na- 

 tives to the rigging ; they wear their beards long. Some re- 

 liance, I should think, may be laid on their statement, as Mr 

 Macleod showed me some Russian coins, combs, and several 

 articles of hardware, very different from those furnished by 

 the British Company. Mr Macleod caused the natives to as- 

 semble last summer, for the purpose of accompanying him in 

 his departure for Hudson's Bay. The sea is said to be open 

 after July. This gentleman^ conduct affords a striking ex- 

 ample of the effects of perseverance. In the short space of 

 eleven months he visited the Polar Sea, and the Atlantic and 

 Pacific Oceans, undergoing such hardships and dangers as per- 

 haps were never experienced by any other individual. 



" I shall endeavour to cross the continent in the spring of 

 1827; but if I fail in my intention, I shall take the earliest 

 opportunity of sailing for England. My stock of clothing is 

 very small, being reduced to two shirts and handkerchiefs, a 

 blanket and cloak, and no stockings. It was impracticable to 

 carry more, since the paper for containing specimens and other 

 necessary articles form a burthen of considerable bulk. 



" P. S. — Since writing the above, I have found Phlox spe- 

 ciosa of Pursh, a most beautiful plant ; his description, how- 

 ever, will require a little attention. Also a fine new species, 

 near P. setacea 9 and abundance of Tigarea tridentata with 

 yellow flowers. I hardly know how to sit down to write, or 

 upon what I shall first lay my hands. 



" I am now in latitude 47 J degrees north, and longitude 1 19° 

 west. 



