THE FRANKLIN SEARCH CONTINUED. 459 



CHAPTER IV. 



LIEUTENANT PULLEN'S NARRATIVE CONTINUED. 



Lieutenant Pullen remained at Fort Good Hope, on the Mackenzie Eiver, 

 until the morning of the 17th September, when, having obtained one of the 

 Company's boats in exchange for the " Logan," which was not well adapted for 

 river navigation, he recommenced the ascent of the great stream of North- 

 western America, toward the more inland posts of the Hudson's Bay Com- 

 pany. On the 22d he reached the point at which the waters of Bear Lake 

 Eiver fall into the Mackenzie. He spent half an hour at the famous " burn- 

 ing banks," where in many places he observed strata of " wood coal in a state 

 of combustion." Above these warm banks were natural raspberry and 

 gooseberry beds bearing abundant fruitj which, to the explorers, nauseated 

 with stale pemmican, were a great treat. Next day PuUen reached Fort 

 Norman, where he replenished his scanty stores with a supply of pemmican, 

 thirty pounds of dried goats' flesh, and a bag of flour. Continuing his ascent 

 of the river, he reached Fort Simpson, where he received a warm welcome 

 from Dr Eae, who was then in charge of the fort. He had now completed 

 his voyage, and though he had not had the good fortune to fall in with the 

 missing voyagers, he had the satisfaction of knowing that he had succeeded 

 in carrying out the instructions of the Admiralty. In thirty-four days he 

 had searched the Arctic shores from Wainwright Inlet to the mouth of the 

 Mackenzie Eiver, a distance of 692 miles, while the ascent from the mouth 

 of the river to Fort Simpson, a distance of 800 miles, had occupied him 

 thirty-six days. In all, since leaving the " Hover," he had traversed 1492 

 miles in seventy days. 



It was found that the whole of the exploring party could not be main- 

 tained throughout the winter at Fort Simpson, and PuUen, on the 10th 

 October, sent all of them ofi", except two, to the Company's fishing station 

 on Great Bear Lake. On the 29th the navigation of the river closed, the 

 whole country around was mantled with snow, fur garments were given out 

 to the inmates of Fort Simpson, and large fires were kept up in every room 

 of that cheerless station. The winter was very cold and very dull, and it 



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