ACEOSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA 



The other man, a half-breed named John Flett, was en- 

 gaged at Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He was highly recom- 

 mended, not so much as a canoeman, as being an expert 

 portager of great experience in northern travel, and also an 

 Eskimo linguist. 



The two men, James Corrigal and Erangois Maurice, who 

 through the kindness of Mr. Moberly, the officer of the Hud- 

 son's Bay Company at Isle-a-la-Crosse, were engaged to meet 

 us with a third canoe at Eort McMurray, were also western 

 half-breeds, trained in the use of the pack-strap as well as the 

 paddle, and were a pair of fine strong fellows. Thus it was 

 arranged to combine in our party the best skill both of canoe- 

 men and portagers. 



Our reasons for not employing Indians from Lake Atha- 

 basca were, that these natives had on nearly all previous 

 expeditions proved to be unreliable. Such men as Ave had 

 engaged, unlike these Indians, were free from any dread of 

 the Eskimos, and as we would advance they would soon be- 

 come entirely dependent on us as their guides. Besides, they 

 were more accustomed to vigorous exertion at the paddle and 

 on the portage than the local Indians, who arc rather noted 

 for their proficiency in taking life easy. 



Next in importance to procuring good boats and canoemen 

 was the acquisition of a complete set of portable mathematical 

 instruments, but in due time these, too, were obtained. The 

 following is a list of them: — One sextant with folding mer- 

 curial horizon, one solar compass, two pocket compasses, two 

 prismatic compasses, one fluid compass, two boat logs, two 

 clinometers, one aneroid barometer, a pair of maximum and 

 minimum thermometers, one pocket chronometer, three good 

 watches, a pair of field-glasses, an aluminum binocular, and 

 a small camera. These, though numerous, were not bulky, 

 but they comprised a part of our outfit over which much care 

 had to be exercised throughout the journey. A bill of neces- 

 sary supplies was also carefully made out, and the order for 



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