Additional Information regarding the Arctic Expeditions. 249 
lig;ed to do from the slenderness of their vessels. When he has 
once succeeded in getting out of the bight, his task will be 
easy. The delay in this case will be in starting, and these seas 
are not open for boat-navigation more than six weeks at fur- 
thest. After reaching Point Turn-again , he returns to his ship. 
If he can make a tolerable straight course, his voyage along the 
coast and back again will be about 800 miles. 
Captain Franklin is to proceed in boats along the coast from 
Mackenzie's River to the westward, towards Behring’s Straits. 
His arrangements have been made with great care. Depots of 
provisions are to be established near the sea, and we feel confi- 
dent of his safety and success. Dr Richardson leaves Captain 
'Franklin at Mackenzie’s River, with the view of examining, in 
all its details, tne natural history of the country extending east- 
ward to Coppermine River, and probably farther, — an investi- 
gation which cannot fail to procure for this distinguished travel- 
ler additional claims on the gratitude of the scientific world. 
The schemes that have been proposed of using rein-deer, 
dogs, &c. are quite Utopian. Sledges can only travel in the 
winter season. Captain Franklin and Dr Richardson found, that 
when a journey exceeded twenty daj^s, the dogs could drag 
little more than their own provisions. Rein-deer are not yet 
domesticated in America. Years must elapse before that is 
effected, and it would be easier to begin by civilising the na- 
tives who inhabit the parts required to be surveyed. As to es- 
tablishing depots of provisions from Canada or England, the 
distance they require to be carried by land, in either case, would, 
as the crow flies, exceed 2000 miles. A canoe fully laden car- 
ries 30 pieces, including the mens’ bedding, and the provision 
for the crew for four months. The shortest time the voyage 
would occupy from Canada to the depot, at 3 lb. a man per day, 
would amount to the whole freight, leaving them to depend up- 
on the resources of the country for the remaining eight months. 
If supplies of provision were not obtained from the immediate 
posts, none of the trading goods could be carried up to Mac- 
kenzie’s River. It requires, however, one, and in some cases 
two years’ notice to receive these supplies, and their amount is 
limited. 
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