190S.] 



PKEVIOUS EXPLORATIONS DAWSON. 



75 



traversed, with numerous detailed notes on the flora and a few on 

 the fauna. 



In the summer of 1879 Dr. G. M. Dawson, of the Canadian Geo- 

 logical Survey, en route from Port Simpson, on the Pacific coast, 

 exj)lored some of the upper branches of Peace Eiver and reached 

 Edmonton by way of the upper Athabaska. In his report references 

 are made to the fauna and flora of the region. 



In 1879 and 1880 Frederick Schwatka made a journey overland 

 from near Chesterfield Inlet to King William Land and back, the 

 final search for traces of the Franklin expedition. The summer of 

 1879 was spent on King William Land. The party left here about 

 Xovember 1 and ascended Back River for some distance on the return 

 journey. Many notes on the game animals of the region, especially 

 of King William Land, appear in the narrative of the trip. 



In the summer of 1882 Dr. Robert Bell, of the Canadian Geo- 

 logical Survey, explored La Biche River and made an examination of 

 the Athabaska from the mouth of La Biche River to Athabaska Lake. 

 He then ascended the Athabaska to the Clearwater, and that stream 

 to Methye Portage. 



During the seasons of 1887 and 1888 R. G. McConneil, of the 

 Canadian Geological Survey, made a detailed geological examination 

 of portions of the Mackenzie region. Leaving the junction of the 

 Dease and Liard rivers on June 25, 1887, he descended the Liarcl to 

 Fort Simpson, where he arrived August 5. He then ascended the 

 Mackenzie and Slave to Fort Smith, and spent the remainder of 

 the season of open water in examining Slave River, Salt River, Hay 

 River, and the southwestern shores of Great Slave Lake, reaching 

 Fort Providence about October 1. The winter was passed at this 

 post, from which trips were made to Fort Rae and other j)oints. 

 About May 1, 1888, he descended the Mackenzie on the ice to Fort 

 Simpson, and, leaving there May 28, proceeded by boat to Fort 

 McPherson on the Peel. From here he crossed the mountains by 

 way of La Pierre House to the Porcupine, and descending it reached 

 the Pacific coast by way of the Yukon and the Chilkoot Pass. 



In the summer of 1888 William Ogilvie, of the Canadian Depart- 

 ment of the Interior, after spending the winter on the Yukon at the 

 boundary between Alaska and Canada, crossed the mountains and as- 

 cended the Mackenzie. He left his winter quarters eaAj in March 

 and descended the Yukon to the mouth of the Tat-on-duc. He then 

 ascended this river on the ice, and from its head crossed to the head 

 of the Porcupine. Here he encamped until the river opened, late in 

 May, and then descended it in canoes to the mouth of Bell River, an 

 easterly tributary. This was ascended to its head and a portage 

 made by McDougall Pass to the head of Trout River, a branch of the 



