OF THE POLAR SEA 



391 



CHAPTER XI 



Journey across the barren Grounds 

 Melancholy and fatal Results i 



Mi 



Extreme Misery of the whole Party — Murder 



Mr. Hood — Death of several of the Canadians — Desolate State of Fort Enterprise 

 Distress suffered at that Place— Dr. Richardson's Narrative— Mr. Back's Narrative 

 Conclusion. 



August 17. JjfLY original intention, whenever the season should 



■ 



compel us to relinquish the survey, had been to return by the way 

 of the Copper-Mine River, and in pursuance of my arrangement 

 with the Hook to travel to Slave Lake through the line of woods 

 extending thither by the Great Bear and Marten Lakes, but our 

 scanty stock of provision and the length of the voyage rendered it 

 necessary to make for a nearer place. We had already found that 

 the country, between Cape Barrow and the Copper-Mine River, 

 would not supply our wants, and this it seemed probable would now 

 be still more the case ; besides, at this advanced season, we expected 

 the frequent recurrence of gales, which would cause great detention, 

 if not danger in proceeding along that very rocky part of the coast. 



I determined, therefore, to make at once for Arctic Sound, where 

 we had found the animals more numerous than at any other place ; 

 and entering Hood's River, to advance up that stream as far as it 

 was navigable, and then to construct small canoes out of the 

 materials of the larger ones, which could be carried in crossing the 

 barren grounds to Fort Enterprise. 



August 19. — We were almost beaten out of our comfortless abodes 

 by rain during the night, and this morning the gale continued 



