136 Polar Explorations. 
to the success of some more fortunate individual, but most 
happy should I be, to be selected as that individual.” The 
uniformly obliging and friendly manners of his associates, 
ment, to explore his way to the Polar Sea. 
is party consisted of Capt. Franklin, and three other 
officers, twenty four Englishmen, two Canadians, and two 
Esquimaux. 
The officers went by way of New York to Lake Superior, 
and about four or five days march from Mathye portage, over- 
took eis boats and crews, which had left England eight 
thi denies 
: proceeded directly to the junction of the Bear Lake 
river with the McKenzie in 65° N. lat. and 123° W. long. 
After leaving a sufficient number of men at this place to pre- 
pare a house (called Fort Franklin,) and other accommoda- 
tions for the winter, Capt. Franklin with the remainder of the 
party, in four small boats, proceeded to the sea coast, going 
down the McKenzie to its mouth, where its numerous branch- 
es form a large delta of alluvion, enclosing several islands in 
its various reaches. 
They discovered an island thirty miles north of the Whale 
Island of McKenzie, which Capt. Franklin named Garry, in N. 
Jat. 69° and 135° W. long. On this island were layers of wood 
, beside a bituminous liquid tricking down the cliffs. It 
was covered with shrubby plants and thin grasses and mosses, 
and on the beach were pebbles of granite, quartz, and Lydi- 
an stone. The fibrous structure and the twisted state of the 
woody layers were easily traced in the coal, and several im- 
pressions of seed and ferns were observed. 
They hastened to rejoin their companions at winter quar- 
ters, and arrived at Fort Franklin on the 5th of September. 
This winter although they were straitened for provisions, was 
still comparatively comfortable. Divine service was regularly 
attended on Sundays, and the same attention paid to the 
comfort and improvement of the men, as was practised on 
board the ships, commanded by Capt. Parry. Capt. Frank- 
