456 THE FRANKLIN SEARCH— 18i8-51. 



the women arrange their hair. All the tribes west of the Icy Eeef wear it 

 short and loose, those to the east of it have it long and tied up on the top of 

 the head in large double bows, which, by Sir J. Franklin, are called top- 

 knots. The greatest number we saw together were congregated near Point 

 Beechey, and this was the party with whom we had the brush." 



On August 30th the expedition entered the Mackenzie, but progress, by 

 tracking along the banks, was exceedingly tedious, as the wind was dead 

 against the boats, and a two-knot current offered additional opposition. All 

 hands, however, were in good spirits, and even the sick man brightened and 

 rejoiced at the thought of leaving the dreary and desolate coast. " Our 

 general course," writes PuUen, " was about south-west, till at nine a.m. we got 

 into a broader stream trending east-south-east, and from this point we may 

 fairly consider the ascent of the river to have commenced." Winter had 

 now fairly set in. Snow continued to fall in successive heavy showers, and 

 the wind swept over the river in gusts. The cold was intense, and Pullen 

 and his men, who, while the wind was favourable, sat cramped up in the 

 boats, felt it very severely, and were often compelled to steer for the shore 

 and have a brisk run on land to warm themselves. The higher parts of the 

 country were now covered with snow ; " but," says Pullen, with scarcely 

 perfect scientific accuracy, " we had this consolation — we were making a 

 southerly advance, and approaching a somewhat milder climate." On the 

 afternoon of the 3d September, Pullen entered Peel Eiver. On the morning 

 of the 5th he saw on the right bank of the river " something that looked like 

 a congregation of huts ; but, on a nearer approach, when we got clear of the 

 influence of mirage, I perceived that it was something more substantial, 

 assuming quite the shape of a strong and permanent building. Shortly after 

 coming round the point of a spit, there appeared a boat, pulled by white 

 people, accompanied by a small fleet of canoes, and as we closed with the 

 former, we were welcomed by a Mr Hardisty, the gentlemen in charge of the 

 Hudson's Bay post, who transferred himself to our boat. At ten a.m. we 

 landed at the fort, with hearts fuU of gratitude to the God of all mercies for 

 His protection in our long and perilous boat voyage." 



But all difficulties had not yet been surmounted, for, on making inquiries, 

 Pullen was informed that it would be impossible for Mr Hardisty to maintain 

 the whole of his party at the fort during the winter. He could provide for 

 five or six of the exploring party, but the others would require to go on to 

 Fort Good Hope, and winter either there, or at Fort Norman, or Fort 

 Simpson. Pullen accordingly left Mr Hooper with five men at the fort, and 

 taldng with him the remainder of the men, and twenty days' provisions, he 

 set sail in the "Logan" and "Supply." Their course was down Peel 

 River, a distance of ten miles ; they then entered a more easterly branch, 

 and at about seven a.m. on September 7th, they came out upon the broad 



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