CHAPTER X*.
Departure from Fort Enterprise—Navigation of the Copper-Mine River—Visit to the Copper
Mountain—Interview with the Esquimaux—Departure of the Indian Hunters—Arrangements
made with them for our return.
June 1 4 . TH E trains for the canoes having been finished during the
night, the party attached to them commenced their journey at ten
this morning. Each canoe was dragged by four men assisted by two
dogs. They took the route of Winter Lake, with the intention of
following, although more circuitous, the water-course as far as practicable,
it being safer for the canoes than travelling over land.' After
their departure, the remaining stores, the instruments, and our small
stock of dried meat, amounting only to eighty pounds,'were distributed
equally among Hepburn, three Canadians, and the two
Esquimaux ; with this party and two Indian hunters, we quitted
Eort Enterprise, most sincerely rejoicing that the long-wished-for
day had arrived, when we were to proceed towards the final object
of the Expedition.
We left in one of the rooms a box, containing a journal of the
occurrences up to this date, the charts, and some drawings, which
was to be conveyed to Fort Chipewyan by Mr. Wentzel, on his
return from the sea, and thence- to be sent to England. The room
* It will be seen hereafter that I had the misfortune to lose my portfolio containing my
journals from Fort Enterprise to the 14th of September. But the loss has been amply
redeemed by my brother officers’journals, from which the narrative up to that period has
been chiefly compiled.
was blocked up, and, by the advice of Mr. Wentzel, a drawing representing
a man holding a dagger in a threatening attitude, was affixed
to the door, to deter any Indians from breaking it open. We
directed our course towards the Dog-rib Rock, but as our companions
were loaded with the weight of near one hundred and eighty pounds
each, we of necessity proceeded at a slow pace. I H H H H
tremely warm, and the musquitoes, whose attacks had hitherto been
feeble, issued forth in swarms from the marshes, an -were very
tormenting. Having walked five miles w e encamped near a smaU
cluster of pines about two miles from the Dog-rib Rock. e cano
party had not been seen since they set out. Our hunters went
forward to Marten Lake, intending to wait for us at a plare whe
two deer were deposited. At nine P.M. the temperature of the air
W W?resumed our march at an early hour, and crossed several lakes
which lay in bur course, as the ice enabled the men to drag eir
burdens on trains formed of sticks and deers’ horns, with more ease
than they could carry them on their backs. We were kept constancy
wet by this operation, as the ice had broken near the shores of the
lakes but this was little regarded as the laKC , ... -p Tir Kpinff at 821d°a. y wAats Munaurstuenal lLya wkaer wme: the temperature at two P.M. being a 2
ioined the canoe party, and encamped with them. We had the
mortification of learning from our hunters that the meat ^ h '
put en cache here, had been destroyed by the wolverenes, and we
had in consequence, to furnish the supper from our scanty stock o
toed meat The wind changed from S.E. to N.E. I the evernng
t d the weather became very cold, the thermometer being at 4 3M
nine PM The few dwarf birches we could collect afforded fir
insufficien; to keep us warm, and we
our blankets as soon as the supper was despatched. Th , •
rendered the night so extremely cold, that we procured but little
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