Narrative of the Discoveries on the North Coast of America: Effected by the Officers of the Hudson's Bay Company During the Years 1836-1839In 1829, Thomas Simpson (1808-1840), born in Dingwall, Scotland, joined the fur-trading Hudson's Bay Company. Under its auspices, he was the junior officer of a successful survey expedition along the North-West Passage, beyond the limits of Franklin's disastrous 1819-22 attempt. The Royal Geographical Society awarded Simpson their Founder's Medal; however the Company refused his request immediately to lead an expedition further east along the coast. Simpson, ambitious and furious, set out for London, hoping to secure approval there, but before he reached the Atlantic, he was shot in the head. The men who had accompanied him alleged that he went mad, and killed two of them before committing suicide. Simpson's own account of his explorations was edited by his brother, Alexander, and published in 1843 in an attempt to restore his reputation. It sheds light on Simpson's difficult character and also on the contribution of trade interests to exploration. |
Contents
CHAPTER I | 1 |
CHAPTER II | 26 |
CHAPTER III | 67 |
CHAPTER IV | 82 |
Voyage from Mackenzie River to Franklins Return | 109 |
CHAPTER VI | 128 |
Journey on foot and in an Esquimaux canoe to Point | 143 |
CHAPTER VIII | 169 |
Second Sea VoyageDifficulties and detentions | 270 |
CHAPTER XII | 291 |
CHAPTER XIII | 314 |
CHAPTER XIV | 342 |
Stupendous bay broken into minor bays and bordered | 359 |
Wintry return to Fort Confidence Passage of Great | 389 |
APPENDIX | 409 |
| 419 | |
Common terms and phrases
appeared Arctic Athabasca Back’s banks barren beach Bear Lake Bloody Fall boats breakfast camp canoe Cape Cape Alexander Cape Barrow Chipewyan coast cold Company’s Confidence Coppermine River crossed day’s Dease River deer distance dogs eastward encamped Esquimaux expedition feet fell fifteen fifty find fine fire first fish fishery five miles fixed flat flowing Fort Chipewyan Fort Simpson Franklin frozen gale half-breed Hare Indians hills Hudson’s Bay Company hunters inlet island journey land Loucheux Mackenzie River morning Mountains mouth narrow natives night noon northern o’clock party passed pemican plain Point Barrow provisions rapid reached Red River reefs reindeer rocks rocky round sail Saulteaux season seen shore shot side Simpson Sir John Slave Lake sledges snow soon southward strait stream supra tents tribes voyage weather westward whole wind winter wood