1908.] 



PREVIOUS EXPLORATIONS : 



BACK. 



63 



early August, and Felix Harbor, Boothia, on September 30. Three 

 years were spent in this vicinity, and overland journeys were made 

 for about a hundred miles to the westward. The summer of 1832 Avas 

 spent along the east coast of Bootliia and Xorth Somerset, between 

 latitude 70° and 73°, and the next winter at Somerset House, in lati- 

 tude 72° 4:0\ after Avhich Ross returned to England. The natural his- 

 tory of the region was rej)orted on by James Clark Ross, a nephew 

 of the commander. 



The expedition of Back to the mouth of Great Fish River (since 

 generally called Back River) was sent out to explore that stream, and, 

 if possible, to render aid to the members of the expedition under Sir 

 John Ross, whose prolonged absence had caused much apprehension. 

 Richard King, surgeon and naturalist to the expedition, was second 

 in command. Traveling by way of Montreal, the Great Lakes, the 

 SaskatcheAvan, and Methye Portage, the party reached Fort Chipe- 

 AA^an on July 29, 1833. Descending the Athabaska and SlaA^e rivers, 

 they reached Great SlaA^e Lake on August 8, and their prospective 

 AA'intering place, at the eastern end of the lake, August 18. During 

 the autumn a preliminaiy surA^ey to the head of Great Fish River AA'as 

 made, and the AA'inter AA'as passed at their establishment. AA^hich AA'as 

 named Fort Reliance. The party left here May 7, 1834, reached the 

 head of Great Fish RiA'er, after great exertions, on June 28, and de- 

 scending it, reached the mouth about August 1. 



PreA'ented by ice from exploring the coast to the eastAA'ard, the 

 party, after being detained in the A'icinity of Montreal Island for 

 some days, began the ascent of the riA'er on August 22, reached 

 Fort Reliance on September 27, and again wintered there. Back 

 left on March 20, 1835, and returned to England, leaA'ing King in 

 charge of the expedition. King left Avith the remainder of the party 

 on April 14, and after spending seA'eral days at the fishery near the 

 narroAv part of the lake, reached Fort Resolution on April 26. Here 

 he remained until about June 10, Avhen he turned southward, reach- 

 ing Fort Chipewyan June 22, and Isle a la Crosse July 19, and re- 

 turned to England by way of Lake AYinnipeg and Hudson Bay. 



Captain Back did little to encourage the acquisition of natural his- 

 tory specimens, and as King's regular duties took up most of his time, 

 the latter could devote but little time to collecting. Most of the 

 specimens AA'ere taken at Fort Reliance, but many observations were 

 made at Fort Resolution and at various other points on the route. 

 Two narratiA'es of the expedition AA'ere published. Back giA'es a few 

 notes on natural history, and a zoological appendix by Richardson 

 contains lists of the birds and mammals collected, the localities 

 being in some cases indicated, and a fcAV species being more ex- 

 tensiA'ely annotated. King's narratiA'e is replete with notes on natural 

 history, and much light is throAvn on many species Avhich are merely 

 listed in Back's narratiA^e. 



