TO

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

THE EARL OF RIPON.

MY LORD,

YOUR Lordship was Secretary of State for the Colonies, when the. Expedition of which the following is the Narrative was organised and to your good Offices, and liberal Subscription in its favour, the success of the project was at that time mainly due. I have ventured, in consequence, to dedicate to you the Volume: and am most happy in being thus enabled to express some part of the sincere respect with which I have the honour to be,

MY LORD,

Your Lordship's most obedient

and very humble Servant,

GEORGE BACK.

FISKVBA

PRELIMINARY CHAPTER

CHAPTER I.

Page 1

Departure from England. Arrival at Montreal. - Pre-

parations for the Expedition.- Fire at the Hotel. - De-

parture from La Chine.

Ottawa. - Lake Huron.

Arrival at Fort Willian

-

-

-

The St. Lawrence. The

The Sault de Ste. Marie.

Distribution of the Loadings.

-

The Mountain Fall, Lac de la Pluie. Arrival at

Fort Alexander. Magnetic Observations. Arrival of

Governor Simpson, and Arrangements made by him. -

Arrival at Norway House. Difficulty of procuring Men

for the Service. - Departure from Norway House

27

CHAP. II.

Commencement of the Expedition.

-

Interview with Mr.

Charles. Wind-bound by a Land Gale.

-

--

-

-

-

A Receipt for

the Cure of "Blue Devils." - Description of a Voyageur's

Tent. A Land Storm. The Grand Rapid. Advance

of Cultivation. Arrival at Cumberland House. De-

parture of the Bateaux under Mr. King. Embark in a

Canoe. Working of the Boats in the Rapids. - Isle à la

Crosse.-Buffalo Lake.- A Squall.-A Skunk. - Portage

la Loche. Effect of the Scenery. - Interview with Mr.

Stuart and Mr. A. McLeod. The latter volunteers to

accompany the Expedition. Arrive at Fort Chipewyan.

- Information as to the supposed Route by the Fond du

Lac.

Journey resumed. Salt River. Sketch of a

Party of Indians. - Description of the Salt Springs. -

-

Prepar-

ations for Departure. Embark in search of the Thlew-

ee-choh. Indian Encampment and Indian Politeness. —

Point of Honour among Indian Hunters. Description of

-

the Country through which the Route lay. A small Ice-

berg seen. · A Bear Hunt. - Indian Inconsistency.

Description of the Coast Line.

-

-

-

Point Keith and Chris-

tie's Bay. Eastern Extremity of Great Slave Lake. —

Discovery of the River supposed to lead towards the

Thlew-ee-choh, Preparations to ascend it

⠀ CHAR. IV.

83

Difficult and toilsome Ascent of Hoar Frost River.- Striking

Scenery along its Course. — Illness of the Interpreter.

Encampment upon Cook's Lake. - Ascent of another small

River full of Rapids. - Desertion of Two Indians. - Per-

plexity of the Guide as to the proper Course, and Attempt

to desert. Succession of Streams and Lakes. Indian

Account of the The-lew or Těh-lon. Clinton-Colden,

Aylmer, and Sussex Lakes. Discovery of the Thlew-

ee-choh

--

-

-

113

CHAP. V.

Digression concerning Hearne's Route

CHAP. VI.

144

-

Continue our Progress. Rocks on the Thlew-ee-choh.

Island of singular Appearance. Musk-Ox Lake.

jectures on the Course of the Thlew-ee-chob.

-

Con-

Icy

-

River. Appearance of two Indians. Maufelly per-

mitted to visit his Wife.- Consummate Skill of De Char-

-

Story of the Rat and the Beaver.

Unfitness of the Trees for Planks.

-

Artillery Lake.

Force of the Rapids. Accident in our Passage. - Leave

-

Tormented by Sand-flies. Anecdote of Sir John

Franklin. Meeting with Mr. McLeod, by an unexpected

Route

Page 156

CHAP. VII.

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-

-

-

"Le grand jeune Homme." Trade with the Indians.

Sunday. Mr. King arrives, with two Bateaux.

formed a Surgical Operation. Discomforts of an Indian

Canoe. Conduct of the Party. - Erection of new Dwell-

ing. Arrival of Indians. Their Policy. - Aged In-

dian Woman. Starving Visitors. - Case of Revenge for

Inhospitality. The Thlew-ee-choh described. - Observ-

atory. Strange Appearance of the Aurora. Pouring

in of the Indians. Superstitious Fancies. Shortness of

Food. Domiciled in the new Building, named Fort Re-

liance. Supplies again fail. Akaitcho. Discharge of

De Charlôit and Two Iroquois; also, of La Charité.

Gloom of the Indians. Story of a young Hunter.

Breach of Indian Law. - Death of the old Woman.

Christmas-day. Short Allowance. - Experiments. - Ex-

cessive Cold. Arrival of Mr. McLeod.

Exemplary Conduct of Akaitcho. Mr. McLeod and his

Family leave us. - Arrival of Maufelly. - Supply of Deer-

flesh. Misunderstanding between Akaitcho and the In-

terpreter. Preparation for building Two Boats.

McLeod's ill Success. -- Strange Conduct of Two Indians.-

-

Mr.