14 PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. 



traders to Great Slave Lake, which it is hoped 

 you will reach by the 20th of July. You are 

 then to strike off to the north-eastward, or in 

 such other direction as you may ascertain to 

 be most expedient, in order to gain the Thlew- 

 ee-choh-desseth, or Great Fish River, which is be- 

 lieved either to issue from Slave Lake, or to rise in 

 its vicinity, and thence to flow with a navigable 

 course to the northward, till it reaches the sea. 

 On arriving on the banks of this river, you 

 are to select a convenient situation for a winter 

 residence, and immediately appoint a portion of 

 your force to erect a house thereon ; but, if 

 possible, you are to proceed yourself, with an 

 adequate party, and explore the river to the 

 coast the same season, erecting a conspicuous 

 land-mark at its mouth, and leaving notice of 

 your intention to return the ensuing spring, in 

 case Captain Ross should be making progress 

 along this part of the shore. 



" You are to take care, however, to return 

 before the commencement of the winter, to 

 avoid any undue exposure of your men. Dur- 

 ing the winter you are to construct two boats, 

 capable, in your opinion, of navigating the 

 Polar Sea; and as early as possible in the en- 

 suing spring you are to descend again to its 



shores. 



" Your proceedings afterwards must be much 



