200 SECOND JOURNEY TO THE 



by any means inviting ; and the wandering 

 groups of native Indians are better calcu- 

 lated to excite compassion than any plea- 

 surable feeling. The present journal will 

 therefore commence at that part of the 

 journey where the Great Bear Lake River, 

 flowing out of the lake of the same name, 

 joins the Mackenzie River. It was on the 

 banks of the former that the party resolved 

 to take up their winter-quarters, and to 

 build a habitation and store, to which, when 

 completed, they gave the name (in honour 

 of their revered commander) of Fort Frank- 

 lin. This was done in imitation of the North 

 West Fur Company, who give to all their 

 stations the name of forts, they being to a 

 certain degree places of defence against, as 

 well as depots for trade with, the native 

 Indians.* 



Having reached this spot so early as the 

 7th August, Captain Franklin calculated 



* The position of Fort Franklin was determined to 

 be in lat. 65° ll 7 56" N., long. 123° 12' 44" W. The 

 variation of the compass 39° 9' E., dip of the needle 

 82° 58' 15". 



