LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



U. S. Revenue Steamer Corwin, 



San Francisco, CaL, November 13, 1884. 



Sir: Herewith I have the honor to transmit a transcript of the jonrnal ot" the progress of an 



expedition sent from the Corwin during the last summer for the exi)U)nitiou of the Kowak Kiver. 



A chart of the river, as far as has been explored, showing the surroundings, width, and 



character of tlie shores, in detail, is now being prepared and will be finished in the course of a 



week or ten days. 



While I regret the failure of the expedition to accomplish the prime object for which it was 

 sent, namely, the exploration of a lake whicii is supposed to exist at the he;i(l waters of the river, 

 1 can not refrain from saying that much useful information and experience have been olXained, 

 which will be of great service in future explorations in this direction. There seems to be no 

 reasonable doubt of the existence of a large lake at or near the headwaters of the Kowak. The 

 Indians spenk constantly of it and say that from the mountains around its ni)]i('r jiortion the "sea 

 is visible in one direction." They also report that short portages are here made which bring them 

 to the Yukim K'iver by way of the Kuryukuk in one direction and to tiie sea, by way of another 

 river in the other. The query arises: Is this latter the Colville Kiver? If so, a ready means of 

 communication couhl be established between the settlements on the Yukon River and those on the 

 shores of the Arctic Ocean. The importance of such a communication can liardly be overestimated. 

 The vast tract of country lying within the Arctic Circle and between meridians 13.5° and l()5o west 

 longitude remains practically unexplored. With the exception of the coast and the comparatively 

 small ]tortions drained by the Porcupine and Kowak Rivers, this vast region is as little known as 

 when first discovered. That this country is rich in mineral deposits is fully attested by the many 

 specimens of ore brought to the coast by the nomadic tribes of Indians wiio roam Ihe mountains 

 in search of the bear, moose, and deer during the winter months, and by the frequent indications of 

 gold ami silver seen by our party in our progress up the Kowak. These indications increased as 

 we advanced, and the conclusi n is irresistibly reached tliat among the higli mountains which for n 

 the watershed for the Kowak, Kuryukuk, and (possil)ly) (Jolville Rivers the precious metals may 

 be found in large quantities. 



The question of the commercial importance of explorations in this region, however, sinks into 

 insignificance when their relation to the cause of humanity is considered. Scarcely a year passes 

 that does not carry with it a sad record of suffering and disaster to those whose business or duty 

 brings them into the waters of the Arctic Ocean. In the i)nrsuit of their calling the hardy whale- 

 men often press to the eastward beyond Point Barrow, and sometimes it happens that, lured on 

 by their rich quarry, they are delayed until the ice forms around Point Barrow and their retreat 

 in this direction is cut off. If it were known that a communication by river could be made with 

 the Yukon there would still be time enough to lay their vessels uj) in sonic convenient bay on 

 the northern coast and reach civilization and safety before the long, dreary winter sets in. But 

 in the absence of any authoritative information on the subject, they look with sailors' natural dread 

 on the dark wilderness, and, witli a wild hope that they may yet escape, turn their ship's head 

 toward the treacherous icie. A crushed and dismantled hulk, a few bleached and mangled bones, 



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