« 
INTRODUCTION. li 
What is now, for the firft time, authentically laid before 
the Public, with regard to the difcoveries made by the 
Hudfon’s Bay Company, was well known to the noble Lord 
who prefided at the board of Admiralty, when this voyage 
was undertaken; and the intimate connexion of thofe dif¬ 
coveries with the Plan of the Voyage, of courfe, regulated 
the inftru£tions given to Captain Cook. 
And now, may we not take it upon us to appeal to every 
candid and capable inquirer, whether that part of the in- 
ftru6tions which directed the Captain not to lofe time , in 
exploring rivers or inlets , or upon any other account, till he 
got into the latitude of 65°, was not framed judicioufly; 
as there were fuch indubitable proofs that no paffage ex- 
ifted fo far to the South as any part of Hudfon’s Bay, and 
that, if a palfage could be effected at all, part of it, at ' 
leaft, mufb be traverfed by the Blips as far to the North¬ 
ward as the latitude 72 0 , where Mr. Hearne arrived at 
the fea ? 
We may add, as a farther conlideration in fupport of this 
article of the Inftrudtions, that Beering’s Aliatic difcoveries, 
in 1728, having traced that continent to the latitude of 67°, 
Captain Cook’s approach toward that latitude was to be 
wifhed for, that he might be enabled to bring back more 
took it from her and killed it immediately. The relation of this {hocking fcene only 
ferved the favages of my gang for laughter. Her country is fo far to the IVeJiward ., that {he 
fays {he never faw any iron, or other kind of metal, till taken prifoner; thofe of her tribe 
making their hatchets and chifels of deers horns, and knives of {tone and bone; their ar¬ 
rows are {hod with a kind of Hate, bones, and deers horns ; and their inftruments, to make 
their wood work, are nothing but beavers teeth. They have frequently heard of the ufe- 
ful materials the nations to the Eaft of them are fupplied with from the Englifh; but, 
inftead of drawing nearer to be in the way of trading for iron work, &c. are obliged to 
retreat farther back, to avoid the Arathapefcow Indians, as they make furprizing {laughter 
amongft them every year, both winter and fummer. Hearne’s MS. Journal, 
g 2 authentic 
