20 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS. 
Dog teams having been sent back to Fort Resolution in 
charge of two men employed for that purpose, we were now 
dependent upon human power as our propelling force. Ac- 
cordingly my Indian voyagers were at once set to work trans- 
porting outfit in a northeasterly direction, over a portage to Ar- 
tillery Lake, and whilst they were thus engaged I and my as- 
sistants had ample time to explore that part of the district. 
Old Fort Reliance—of which I have already made men- 
tion—was found to be a mere ruin, consisting of five stone 
chimneys, around one of which an enterprising hunter has re- 
cently built a small log cabin, but the location of the Old Fort 
is one of the most lovely spots imaginable—on the shore of 
Charlton harbor just east of the mouth of Lockheart River. 
The land rises from the shore in regular and beautiful park-like 
terraces, and forms one of the loveliest camping grounds I have 
ever seen. It is mostly covered by open spruce woods, through 
and about which various kinds of wild berries grow in great 
profusion, and at certain seasons of the year game is very 
abundant—particularly caribou—whose well beaten trails are 
everywhere to be seen. 
Historically, Fort Reliance is of interest chiefly as having 
been the headquarters of Sir George Back and his party during 
the three years of their exploits when they were supposed to be 
searching for traces of Sir James Ross, who, shortly after 
Back’s departure, turned up safely in England. 
Back, like myself, wrote a book descriptive of his discover- 
ies, and I have sometimes thought, since reading it, and having 
gone over portions of his stamping grounds, that if knighthood 
was conferred upon him as a result of his published narrative 
and maps, that he did certainly earn the distinction as a writer 
of fiction rather than as a recorder of facts. 
So inaccurate and misleading did we find his descriptions 
and maps, that with our party the term of “ Backite ” became a 
synonym for falsehood. 
Just one instance to prove my grounds for so severe criti- 
cism. Not far from the Old Fort upon the Lockheart River 
there occur several beautiful waterfalls, and the highest of thes: 
