OF THE POLAR SEA. 91 
CHAPTER III. 
Dr. Richardson’s Residence at Cumberland Home Account of 
the Cree Indians. 
Sena ab From the departure of Messrs. Frank- 
lin and Back, on the 19th of January, for Chi- 
pewyan, until the opening of the navigation in 
the spring, the occurrences connected: with the 
Expedition were so much in the ordinary routine 
of a winter’s residence at Fort Cumberland, that 
they may be, perhaps, appropriately blended with 
the following general but brief account of that 
district and its inhabitants. 
Cumberland House was originally built by: 
Hearne, a year or two after his return from the 
Copper-mine River, and has ever since b n.con. 
sidered by the Hudson’s Bay Company as a post 
of considerable importance. Previous to that time, 
the natives carried their furs down to the shores of 
Hudson’s Bay, or disposed of them nearer home 
- to the French Canadian traders, who visited this 
3 et of the country as early as the year 1697. 
~The Cumberland House district, extending 
