1908.] 



PREVIOUS EXPLORATIONS FRANKLIN. 



59 



the Coppermine. The first five named entered the country by way 

 of New York and the Great Lakes, and Franklin, llichardson, and 

 Drnmmond, traveling a little in advance of the others, reached 

 Cumberland House on June 15, 1825. Here Drummond remained, 

 with the intention of making collections on the Saskatchewan and 

 among the Rocky Mountains to the westward. Franklin and Kich- 

 ardson left the following day, and on June 29, at Methye Portage, 

 overtook the boats which had left Cumberland House a short t'umi 

 previously with the heavier supplies. The party then descended 

 the Clearwater and Athabaska to Fort Chipewyan, Avhere Franklin 

 remained until the arrival of Back's party, Richardson keeping on 

 with the boats. On the arrival of Back's detachment, Franklin 

 descended the Slave and Mackenzie to the mouth of Great Bear 

 River. Here Franklin and Back separated, the former, accompanied 

 by Kendall, to descend the Mackenzie to its mouth, while Back was 

 to proceed to Great Bear Lake to the winter residence, Richardson 

 having already preceded him there for the purpose of exploring the 

 shores of the lake. Franklin, after making a preliminary survey 

 of the Mackenzie to its mouth, returned to the prospective winter 

 quarters, established near the head of Great Bear River by Dease, 

 who had passed the previous winter at Great Slave Lake and had 

 arrived here late in Julj. At this establishment, which had been 

 named Fort Franklin, the entire party assembled on September 5, 

 and passed the winter of 1825-26 in comparative comfort. On the 

 breaking up of Bear River in the following summer, they descended 

 it and the Mackenzie, dividing into two parties on July 4 at Point 

 Separation. Richardson and Kendall surveyed the Arctic coast 

 eastward to the mouth of the Coppermine, and, traveling overland 

 to the northeastern part of Great Bear Lake, crossed it to Fort 

 Franklin, where they arrived on September 1. Richardson left at 

 once for Great Slave Lake and Cumberland House, for the purpose 

 of meeting Drummond and making spring collections on the Sas- 

 katchewan.^ In the meantime Franklin and Back had explored the 

 Arctic coast to the westward of the Mackenzie for 374: miles, and 

 returned to Fort Franklin, reaching there September 21. Franklin 

 remained here until February, 1827, when, leaving Back to follow in 

 the spring, he left for Cumberland House, where he joined Richard- 

 son on June 18, 1827. Richardson, after leaving Fort Franklin, had 

 proceeded to Great Slave Lake, where he passed a part of the winter 

 collecting, and then proceeded on the snow to Carlton House, where 

 he was joined by Drummond on April 5, 1827. The two spent some 



* In an old journal at Fort Simpson I found the record of Doctor Richardson's 

 arrival at that post on September 14, 1826, and of his departure for Great 

 Slave Lake two days later. He is stated to have left Great Bear Lake on 

 September 3. 



