OF THE POLAR SEA. 



CHAPTER XII. 



Journey across the barren grounds— Difficulty and delay in crossing- 

 Copper-Mine River—Melanclioly and fatal Results thereof- 

 Extreme Misery of the whole Party— Murder of Mr. Hood- 

 Death of several of the Canadians —Desolate State of Fort 

 Enterprise-Distress suffered at tliat Place-Dr. Richardson's 

 Narrative— Mr. Back's Narrative— Conclusion. 



1S2I. My original intention, whenever the sea- 

 Au^ust 17. gQj^ should compel us to relinquish the sur- 

 vey, had been to return by the vi^ay 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. 



