J26 EXPLORATIONS IN THE FAR NORTH 



New Amsterdam, the Loucheux are not afraid of windmills, 

 and amuse themselves by making simple toy wheels, since the 

 windmill was put up by the mission at McPherson. A strong 

 head wind blew steadily all day. The long sweep of the river 

 around Point Separation was fully exposed to the wind which, 

 blowing against the current, raised such a sea that progress was 

 not only retarded but rendered dangerous. This point, at the 

 head of the Delta, was so named by Franklin when, in 1826, he 

 divided his party to send Richardson down the eastern channels 

 to the coast. Twenty-two years later Dr. Richardson again 

 reached Point Separation, where he deposited a case of pem- 

 mican at the foot of one of the many lop-sticks, for the use of 

 Franklin's party should any survivors succeed in reaching and 

 ascending the Mackenzie. 1 



Many sanguinary conflicts have occurred there between 

 Loucheux and Eskimos. 2 The " Huskies," who annually as- 

 cend the river to trade at McPherson, are said to " make them- 

 selves awkward" if they meet a party weaker than themselves, 

 so that I was inclined to give them as wide a berth as possible. 



I started early, on the fifth day, and soon entered the narrow 

 channel, with many tedious windings, by which the "Wrigley" 

 ascends the Peel to McPherson. 



The frozen banks were being rapidly undermined, the falling 



1 British Arctic Blue Book, Vol. 35, p. 2. 



8 In a paper to the Institute of Rupert's Land the Rev. W. W. Kirkby 

 writes: "Between Point Separation and Peel's River [Fort McPherson], we 

 met several parties of Esquimaux, all of whom from their thievish propen- 

 sities gave us a great deal of trouble, and very glad were we to escape out 

 of their hands without loss or injury. They are a fine-looking race of 

 people, and from their general habits and appearance I imagine them to be 

 much more intelligent than the Indians." Hind., H. Y., The Labrador 

 Peninsula, Vol. II, p. 164. 



In 1799 Mr. Duncan Levingstone, of the North-West Company, with four 

 servants, was killed by the Eskimos at Point Separation, while " on a voy- 

 age of discovery." Masson, Les Bourgeois, Vol. I, p. 95. 



Pullen gives an account of the cowardly massacre there of a party of 

 Eskimos by a band of Loucheux at the instigation of a Canadian. British 

 Arctic Blue Book, 1852, Vol. 50, p. 54. 



On another occasion the two nations had met on friendly terms, but dur- 

 ing a dance, the Eskimos had suddenly drawn knives from their wide 

 sleeves and attacked the Loucheux. In the conflict which ensued several 

 were slain on both sides. Richardson, Arctic Searching Expedition, p. 133. 



