392 Arctic Land Expedition. 
ber 18)9, after an escape from shipwreck. It proceeded from 
thence to Cumberland House, one of the Hudson’s Bay Com- 
pany’s settlemeuts, nearly half way aross the continent, this being 
considered the best route in order to reach the sea at the mouth 
of the Copper Mine River. Here the winter of 1819 was passed. 
The depth of snow, and the severity of the cold, during the al- 
most interminable winter in this country, precluded the possibi- 
lity of conveying heavy stores, as only one-third of the year can 
be employed with any advantage bv the traveller. 
“The time, however, was not lost; we employed it in mak- 
ing drawings of animals, birds, &c. charts, meteorological ob- 
sarhatianss and collections of specimens, which we transmitted 
to England in the ensuing spring. 
“¢ In June 1820 we set forward in canoes manned by Cana- 
dians. ‘The extreme heat of the short summer, the persecutions 
of noxious insects, and occasional want of food, are the usual 
concomitants of these voyages ;' obstacles insignificant in compa- 
rison with the formidable difficulties which we have yet to over- 
come. On the 29th July we arrived at the north side of the 
Slave Lake. A party of Copper Indians were engaged to accom- 
pany us, and we commenced the work of discovery. On the Ist 
of Sept: we reached the banks of the Copper Mine River, in lat. 
55. 15. N., long. 113. W., a magnificent body of water two 
miles wide. 
“* We had penetrated into a country destitute of wood, and 
our men were exhausted with the labours of carrying canoes, 
cargoes &c. amounting to three tons, from lake to lake. Their 
broken spirits were revived by our success ; but the season was 
too far advanced to make any further progress. We returned 
to a small wood of pines, and erected our winter residence of 
_mud and timber, which we have named Fort Enterprise. 
By Indian report this river runs into the Northern Sea, in 
West. longitude 110, and, we suppose, in lat. 72. In June 1521 
we shall embark, and the river will enable us to reach the sea 
in a fortnight. "Ifthe shore is encumbered with ice, which is 
most probable, we must then leave our canoes, and trace the 
coast on foot to Hudson’s Bay; or, if 10 North-West passage 
exists, to the shore which forms the boundary of Baffin’s Bay, I 
think we are capable of executing this plan. Our chief dread 
was the hostile disposition of the Esquimaux. This danger is 
now almost obviated by the arrival of two Esquimaux interpreters, 
who have been provided at Churchill, and with great diligence 
sent after us. 
«¢ We are not so desolate, perhaps, in our exile, as our friends 
may suppose. The rein-deer are numerous about us, and we 
live on the most delicate venison. We find pleasure in the exa- 
mination of a new and amiable race of people.” 
