OF THE POLAR SEA. 



245 



CHAPTER XII. 



Journey across the Barren Grounds — Difficulty and 

 delay in crossing Copper-Mine River— Melancholy 

 and fatal results thereof — Extreme Misery of the 

 whole Party — Murder of Mr, Hood — Death of 

 several of the Canadians — Desolate State of Fort 

 Enterprise — Distress suffered at that Place — Dr, 

 Richardson's Narrative — Mr. Back's Narrative — 

 Conclusion, 



August 17. — My original intention, when- 

 ever the season should compel us to relin- 

 quish the survey, had been to return by the 

 Copper-Mine River, and, in pursuance of 

 my arrangement with the Hook, to travel 

 to Slave Lake through the line of woods 

 extending thither by the Great Bear and 

 Marten Lakes ; but our scanty stock of pro- 

 vision and the length of the voyage rendered 

 it necessary to make for a nearer place. 

 We had already found that the country, 

 between Cape Barrow and the Copper-Mine 



