216 Scientyic hitcUlgenct, 
pulse Bay. Among the arguments brought forward in support 
of this notiori, it is said, that Hearne entirely neglected to take 
the variation into account ; and Lieutenant Franklin is in pos- 
session of a chart drawn by Matonnabbee, in which the river 
at its rising has the direction given to it in Hearne’s chart ; 
but afterwards it runs nearly east, and terminates on the 
eastern coast, nearly in the situation given to Repulse Bay in 
the English charts. Matonnabbee’s chart is correct in the posi- 
tion of places, and direction of rivers known to the Hudson Bay 
settlers. There is a probability, then, by tracing this river 
to its termination, that the expedition may reach near to 
the north-eastern point of the continent. The expedition ex- 
pect to embark in canoes, eight or ten days after their arrival 
at Y ork Factory, and proceed by Cumberland House, Isle a la 
Crosse, &c. marked in Arrowsmith’s map, to Fort Chepewyan, 
oVj if possible, by Slave Lake. If the autumn is favourable, 
the party hope to reach Fort Chepewyan before the commence- 
ment of winter. The distance of this place from York Fac- 
tory, by the circuitous route the expedition will be obliged to 
take, will be about 1400 miles. If circumstances permit, it is 
intended, after the party become a little inured to the severity 
of the winter, to endeavour to reach Big Slave Fort, (the most 
advanced European settlement), before spring. At this place, 
a party of about twenty Indians, with their wives, will be en- 
gaged ; and from thence the expedition may be said to com- 
mence. They will then be left to their own resources, in a coun- 
try unknown to Europeans ; for Heame^s description has added 
little to the imperfect accounts he collected from the natives. 
Dr Richardson carries with him a variety of philosophical in- 
struments; and we understand the Admiralty have ordered 
from Mr Adie, for the expedition, two of his portable sympie- 
someters. 
44. Whirlpools^ and Subterraneous Passage of the Congv . — In 
examining the quantity of water which passed over a contracted 
part of the river Congo, Captain Tuckey, Professor Smith and 
Mr Fitzmaurice were all surprised at its smallness, compared 
with the immense volume which rolled into the ocean through 
its deep funnel-shaped mouth ; the more so, as they bad pre- 
viously ascertained, in their progress upwards, that not a single 
tributary stream of water, sufficient to turn a mill, fell into the 
