and another Esquimaux interpreter, named Ooligbuck, had advanced from York Factory into the interior, 1200 miles, before they were joined by Captain Franklin and Dr. Richardson; whilst the latter, from taking a more circuitous route, by New York and Upper Canada, travelled 2800 miles, to reach the same point. This junction took place on the 29th of June, 1825, in the Methye River, which is almost at the head of the waters that run from the north into Hudson’s Bay. In no part of the journey was the presence of the officers more requisite to animate and encourage the crews. The river itself, besides being obstructed by three impassable rapids, is usually so shallow, through its whole course of forty miles, as scarcely to admit of a flat-bottomed bateau floating with half its cargo. This river and its impediments being surmounted, the Methye Portage, 10¾ miles long, which is always held up to the inexperienced voyager as the most laborious part of the journey, was at no great distance. But whatever apprehensions the men might have entertained on this subject, seemed to vanish when the captain and his able coadjutor landed amongst them. Lieutenant Back and Mr. Kendall were at this time employed in bringing up three heavily laden canoes from Lake Superior; and Mr. Drummond, who had been left behind at Cumberland House, had already commenced his botanical labours, between the Saskatchawan River and the Rocky Mountains.
On the 7th of August, having reached Fort Norman, situated on the left bank of the Mackenzie, in lat. 64° 40' 30" N., long. 124° 53' 22" W., and within twelve leagues of the stream that runs into that river from Great Bear Lake, Captain Franklin resolved on continuing his course to the sea, in the largest boat, accompanied by Mr. Kendall and the faithful Augustus, for the purpose of collecting whatever information could be obtained from the Loucheux Indians and Esquimaux wanderers, as well as from personal observation, respecting the general state of the ice, in the summer and autumn, and the trending of the coast, east and west of Whale Island, – the limit of Mackenzie’s voyage. In the meantime, Dr. Richardson employed himself in surveying the shores of
