HISTORICAL SUMMARY 91 



the party, reinforced by a number of Canadian voyageurs, 

 started northward in canoes, and reached Fort Chipewyan, 

 on Great Slave lake, before the ice had melted. The expedi- 

 tion, now consisting of twenty-five persons, started away 

 from Fort Chipewyan with one day's supply of provisions and 

 a totally inadequate amount of ammunition. Travelling to the 

 north side of the lake, the party was further increased by a band 

 of the Copper Indians, and all journeyed to Fort Enterprize, 

 which was built near the edge of the barren lands, in latitude 

 64 30' ]ST. The total distance travelled during this season was 

 1,350 miles. Venison was plentiful during the winter, but the 

 supply failed in the spring, so that a start was made over the 

 barrens without any food except such as fell to the hunters from 

 day to day. The distance from Fort Enterprize to the mouth 

 of Coppermine river is 334 miles. The first 120 miles were 

 made by tramping with canoes and outfit over the snow; the 

 remainder was made in canoes, and the mouth of the river was 

 reached on the 21st of July. Turning eastward, the shores of 

 Bathurst inlet and Coronation gulf were surveyed to Point 

 Turnagain, in latitude 68 19' E". and longitude 109 25' W. 

 The canoes were detained here for several days by a snowstorm, 

 and a retreat was necessary as soon as the weather moderated. 

 The course along the coast was therefore retraced to Hood river, 

 and that stream was ascended for a short distance. The equip- 

 ment was reduced to the smallest compass, and a course was 

 shaped overland for Fort Enterprize, the travelling being 

 through deep snow. Game was very scarce, and the hardships 

 soon began to tell on the weaker members of the party, with the 

 result, as before stated, that half the number succumbed to cold 

 and starvation. The survivors were succoured by Indians on 

 the Yth of November, and reached the Hudson's Bay post on 

 Great Slave lake on the llth of December, and England in 

 October, 1822. 



In 1 825-27, Captain Sir John Franklin resumed his explora- 



