321 North-west Land Expcditioji. 



fathoms deep ; no ice whatever, but some small masses here and there ad- 

 hering to some rock or promontory, all of which is highly favourable to the 

 success of Captain Parry, who, however, could not have aiTived on the part 

 of the coast to which Captain Franklin proceeded until the latter had left 

 it on his return, which was on the 25th of August, and at which early period 

 the winter set in, and continued with great severity, though, as every body 

 will remember, we had no winter at all in England. 



On the 5th of September, on their return by land, a snow storm occurred, 

 which covered the earth with two feet deep of snow : this was the fore- 

 runner of all the misfortunes that befel the party. The musk oxen, the 

 rein-deer, the buffaloes, and immense flights of birds, immediately hastened 

 away to the southward. Their provisions were all expended, no firewood 

 was to be had ; the fatigue of dragging their baggage through the snow in- 

 duced them to leave their canoes behind. With great difficulty, and in the 

 utmost distress from cold and want of food, they reached the Copper Mir^e 

 River, which lay between them and Fort Epterj)rise, where they had passed 

 the previous winter, and where they expected to find a supply of provisions. 

 There was no wood to construct a canoe, or even a raft, and eight days pf 

 the only fine weather during the whole season were lost in fruitless attempts 

 to cross the river, which was at length effected by a sort of boat or basket 

 of rushes, which, with the utmost difficulty and danger, carried over the 

 party, one by one, filling every time with water. 



From this moment the Canadians began to droop, and before they reached 

 their destination, not less than eight of them perished from cold and hunger, 

 the whole party having subsisted almost wholly on a species of lichen which 

 grew on the rocks, and by gnawing pieces of their skin cloaks. With ex- 

 actly the same hard fare, and sometimes without even that for two or three 

 days together, the five Englishmen, Captain Franklin, Lieutenants Hood 

 and Back, Dr. Richardson, and a seaman, supported themselves by thci.r 

 buoyant spirits, and did all they coidd to cheer up the desponding Ca- 

 nadian hunters, but in vain ; they beciime insubordinate, refused even to go 

 out in search of game or firewood, straggled away from the rest of the party, 

 and frequently laid themselves down on the snow, intliffcrent as to what 

 might befall them. 



With the most anxious desire to preserve their lives, Dr. Richardson and 

 Lieutenant Hood consented to remain behind to attend to three of these 

 infatuated people, who were unable from weakness to proceed. Two of 

 them died, and the remaining one, a good marksman, and more vigorous 

 than any of the party, became so savage and ungovernable, that he refused 

 to endeavour to shoot any thing towards their subsistence, or even to fetch 

 a little firewood, which Dr. Richardson and the English sailor were obliged 

 to do ; and while this savage was left alone in tiie tent with Lieutenant 

 Hood, the latter being indisposed and sitting over a little fire, he shot bi^ 

 with his nuisket through the head, and killed him oji the spot. After this 

 he became more violent than cvci-, his looks were wild, and he muttered 

 threats that could not be mistaken ; so that Dr. Richardson, for his owa 

 safety, and that of the sailor, who had been a most faithful companion, 

 found it necessary to get rid of the monster*, by shooting him through the 

 head. Thus, of twenty persons which composed the Expedition, ten have 

 perished : — eight through cold, fatigue, and famine, and two by violent 

 deaths ; but the rest of the party, after almost imparalleled sufferings, have 

 rctiu-ned to their friends and their country. It must be highly gratifying to 

 the Naval Officers, that in their absence they were not forgotten, but that 



• The man was no doubt insane, in consequence of the hardshij>s lie, with tho 

 others, had gone through. 



each 



