On the arrival of spring, Dr. Richardson and Mr. | 19th, and a house was there built, which was afterHood rejoined their companions at Fort Chepewyan; wards named Fort Enterprise. In the mean while, an and active preparations were now made for the advance excursion was made by the officers to the head of the of the expedition. A party of Indians were procured, Coppermine River, at Point Lake, about sixty miles to to serve as guides and hunters, until they reached the the northward, in order to satisfy themselves of its mouth of the Coppermine River, and undertook to join size and position. Duque them at stage, where also The winter was passed in dull monotony; be met by a Mr. Wentzel, a clerk of the North West officers employed themselves in writing out their jour Company, who offered himself as a medium of com- nals, constructing the charts, and other similar occumunication with those people, among whom he had pations; and the men were chiefly engaged in seeking lived long and familiarly. Sixteen Canadian voyagers firewood. The provisions, however, of the party, were were also engaged to accompany them throughout the greatly reduced, and their ammunition nearly expended, whole journey; and with these our five countrymen even at this early period. To procure a further supply, set out, on the 18th of July, for Fort Providence, which and hasten the transport of the stores expected from they reached on the 29th. Here they were joined by Cumberland House, Mr.. Back proceeded to Fort CheMr. Wentzel and the Indians, and, on the 2d of pewyan, and returned after an absence of nearly five August, finally departed, hoping to reach the mouth of months, during which he had travelled 1104 miles in the Coppermine before the season should expire. A snow-shoes, with no other covering in the woods on variety of impediments, however, so obstructed them, the wintry nights than a blanket and deer-skin. A that they were far distant from that point, when they part of this extraordinary journey lay across the Great found it necessary to form their winter establishment. Slave Lake; and the mode of travelling practised there The spot selected for this purpose, was reached on the is represented in the engraving below.

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29atrolaior siadt Tobianos of agged wont WINTER TRAVELLING ON THE GREAT SLAVE LAKE. FROM FRANKLIN'S NARRATIVE. During his absence, a large party of the Copper In- | dians arrived at Fort Enterprise, and the impression which their kindness and attention produced was favourable. Captain Franklin relates an amusing incident, which strongly marks their simplicity. An old guide had a daughter, who was considered by her tribe to be a great beauty, insomuch that, although under sixteen years of age, she had already belonged successively to two husbands. Mr. Hood drew an accurate portrait of her, much to the annoyance of her mother, who was afraid, she said, that her daughter's likeness would induce the great chief who resided in England to send for the original. This portrait of Green Stockings, (as the young lady was called from her dress,) with that of her father, forms one of the plates which illustrate Captain Franklin's narrative.

It was not until the 14th of June, 1821, that the expedition was able to leave Fort Enterprise. Almost a year had now elapsed since they had quitted Fort

Providence, and by this time their provisions were. greatly reduced. As they proceeded down the Coppermine, however, the grassy plains on its banks afforded them an abundant supply of game. Deer and muskoxen were also found in large herds, followed, as usual, by great numbers of bears and wolves. These last are gregarious animals, and so sagacious as rarely to be caught in any trap. The stratagem which they practise against the poor deer is as curious as it is successful, on plains bounded by precipitous cliffs."Whilst the deer," says Dr. Richardson, "are quietly grazing, the wolves assemble in great numbers, and, forming a crescent, creep slowly towards the herd, so as not to alarm them much at first; but when they perceive that they have fairly hemmed in the unsuspecting creatures, and cut off their retreat across the plain, they move more quickly, and with hideous yells terrify their prey, and urge them to flight by the only open way, which is that towards the precipice, appear

they reached on the 29th. Here they were joined by Mr. Wentzel and the Indians, and, on the 2d of August, finally departed, hoping to reach the mouth of the Coppermine before the season should expire. A variety of impediments, however, so obstructed them, that they were far distant from that point, when they found it necessary to form their winter establishment. The spot selected for this purpose, was reached on the

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plain sindt Tobianos of asyed wen sow Joge on a 161 88 pony SRS WINTER TRAVELLING ON THE GREAT SLAVE LAKE. FROM FRANKLIN'S NARRATIVE. During his absence, a large party of the Copper In- | dians arrived at Fort Enterprise, and the impression which their kindness and attention produced was favourable. Captain Franklin relates an amusing incident, which strongly marks their simplicity. An old guide had a daughter, who was considered by her tribe to be a great beauty, insomuch that, although under sixteen years of age, she had already belonged successively to two husbands. Mr. Hood drew an accurate portrait of her, much to the annoyance of her mother, who was afraid, she said, that her daughter's likeness would induce the great chief who resided in England to send for the original. This portrait of Green Stockings, (as the young lady was called from her dress,) with that of her father, forms one of the plates which illustrate Captain Franklin's narrative.

Providence, and by this time their provisions were greatly reduced. As they proceeded down the Coppermine, however, the grassy plains on its banks afforded them an abundant supply of game. Deer and muskoxen were also found in large herds, followed, as usual, by great numbers of bears and wolves. These last are gregarious animals, and so sagacious as rarely to be caught in any trap. The stratagem which they practise against the poor deer is as curious as it is successful, on plains bounded by precipitous cliffs."Whilst the deer," says Dr. Richardson, " are quietly grazing, the wolves assemble in great numbers, and, forming a crescent, creep slowly towards the herd, so as not to alarm them much at first; but when they perceive that they have fairly hemmed in the unsuspecting creatures, and cut off their retreat across the It was not until the 14th of June, 1821, that the ex- plain, they move more quickly, and with hideous yells pedition was able to leave Fort Enterprise. Almost a terrify their prey, and urge them to flight by the only year had now elapsed since they had quitted Fort open way, which is that towards the precipice, appear

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THE DUSKY WOLF. FROM RICHARDSON'S "ARCTIC ZOOLOGY." On the 14th of July, our travellers obtained their | first view of the sea; and when they reached the mouth of the Coppermine, the Indians quitted them. Mr. Wentzel also turned back, having previously received positive and repeated injunctions from Captain Franklin, to lay up a large store of provisions at Fort Enterprise, and leave a letter there, informing him where he might expect to fall in with the hunters when he returned. On the 21st, the rest of the par'y embarked upon the open Polar Sea, in two frail canoes of birch bark, with provisions for only fifteen davs. With this slight equipment, they succeeded, however, in tracing the northern coast of America for upwards of 550 miles to the eastward from the Coppermine River.

which they expected to meet with; and every part of the baggage not absolutely wanted was left behind.

The extreme point of their progress in that direction was Point Turnagain, in lat. 68° 18' 50", and long. 109° 25' west. This they reached on the 16th of August, when the approach of winter obliged them to retrace their course back again.

Before they had returned as far as the spot where the river, which they had named after Hood, empties itself into the sea, their provisions were entirely consumed. They well knew from experience that the coast along which their track lay would offer but very scanty means of recruiting their exhausted supply, and that even those means would gradually lessen, as the winter advanced. Accordingly, Captain Franklin resolved to alter his intended route, and proceeding up Hood's River, to strike across the interior, and make directly for Fort Enterprise. They had, however, scarcely advanced far up that stream, when they were stopped by finding pcur its whole body over a ledge of rock, in a splendid fall 250 feet in height:* On the further side, the stream decreased so much, that they were obliged to abandon its navigation, and pursue theis journey on foot. For this purpose, the canoes were rendered more portable, their assistance being still needed to carry the party across the rivers and lakes

Our readers will find a view and description of this magnificent

cascade in the Family Magazine, No. 7, Vol. I. page 52, under the name of the Wilberforce Falls.

They set off on the 31st of August, and soon afterwards, were surprised and alarmned by a heavy fall of snow. With this their sufferings began; they had now nothing to eat, and being destitute of the means of making a fire, remained two whole days in bed. When they resumed their march, they experienced all the bitter miseries of travelling through deep snow, in cold and boisterous weather, and over a barren country, which afforded scarcely a shrub for fuel, and for: food only a species of lichen called tripe de roche,an unpalatable weed, as scanty as it was nauseous. The despair and discontent of the Canadians became great, as the difficulties of the journey increased; and their negligence, or more probably their wilfulness, caused the destruction of the two canoes which they carried.

At length, on the 26th of September, they reached the banks of the Coppermine River, and the Canadians now began to consider their misfortunes at an end; but the river was yet to be passed, before they could approach the place of their destination, and their fatal rashness had destroyed their only means of crossing it. An immediate search was made for pines to construct a raft, but none were to be found. Willows were more plentiful, and a number were gathered and bound into faggots, so as to form a sort of float. But this, from the wood being green, had very little buoyancy, and was rendered utterly useless by the want of oars or poles to propel it against an unfavourable wind. Under these circumstances, there seemed nothing left for them but to remain where they were and starve. Dr. Richardson, however, nobly undertook to make a last effort for the relief of the suffering party, by proposing to swim across the river, (whose breadth was about 130 yards,) with a line attached to his body, and then haul the raft after. "He launched into the stream," says Captain Franklin, "with a line round his middle; but when he had got a short distance from the bank, his arms became benumbed with cold, and he lost the power of moving them; still he perse

1

vered, and, turning on his back, had nearly gained the were decided by mere weapons, they commonly vanopposite bank, when his legs also became powerless, quished: yet we see in history, that the Greeks and and, to our infinite alarm, we beheld him sink. We Romans used themselves soon to those monsters of instantly hauled upon the line, and he came again to war; they opened their ranks to let them go through; the surface, and was gradually drawn ashore in an they did not attempt to wound them, but threw all almost lifeless state. Being rolled up in blankets, he their darts against their leaders, who were forced to was placed before a good fire of willows, and, fortu- surrender, and to calm the Elephants when separated nately, was just able to speak sufficiently to give some from their troops; and now that fire is become the slight directions respecting the manner of treating him. element of war, and the principal instrument of death, He recovered strength gradually, and, by the blessing the Elephants, who are afraid of the noise and the fire of God, was enabled, in the course of a few hours, to of the artillery, would be rather an incumbrance in converse, and by evening was sufficiently recovered battle, and more dangerous than useful. to remove into the tent. We then regretted to learn, "In those regions, however, where our cannons and that the skin of his whole left side was deprived of murdering arts are yet scarcely known, they fight still feeling, in consequence of exposure to too great heat. with Elephants. At Cochin, and in the other parts of He did not perfectly recover the sensation of that side Malabar, they do not make use of horses, and all those until the following summer. I cannot describe what who do not fight on foot are mounted upon Elephants. every one felt at beholding the skeleton which the In Tonquin, Siam, and Pegu, the king and all the Doctor's debilitated frame exhibited. When he strip-grandees never ride but upon Elephants: on festival ped, the Canadians simultaneously exclaimed, Ah que days they are preceded and followed by a great numnous sommes maigres! ber of these animals richly caparisoned, and covered with the richest stuffs. On comparing the relations of travellers and historians, it appears that the Elephants are more numerous in Africa than in Asia; they are there also less mistrustful, not so wild, and, as if they knew the unskilfulness and the little power of the men with whom they have to deal in this part of the world, come every day without fear to their habitations.

NATURAL HISTORY.

THE ELEPHANT.
(Continued.)

"The Elephant, once tamed, becomes the most tractable and the most submissive of all animals; he conceives an affection for his leader, he caresses him, and seems to guess whatever can please him: in a little time he understands the signs, and even the expression of sounds; he distinguishes the tone of command, that of anger or good nature, and acts accordingly: he never mistakes the words of his master; he receives orders with attention, and executes them with prudence and eagerness, without precipitation; for his motions are always measured, and his character seems to participate of the gravity of his body; he is easily taught to bend the knee to assist those who will ride on his back; he caresses his friends with his trunk, and salutes with it the persons he is directed to take notice of: he makes use of it to lift burdens, and helps to load himself; he has no aversion to being clothed, and seems to delight in a golden harness or magnificent trappings; he is easily put to the traces of carts, and draws ships upon occasion: he draws evenly, without stopping, or any marks of dislike, provided he is not insulted by unreasonable correction, and provided his driver seems to be thankful for the spontaneous exertion of his strength. His leader is mounted on his neck, and makes use of an iron rod crooked at the end, with which he strikes him gently on the head to make him turn or increase his pace; but often a word is sufficient, especially if he has had time to make himself well acquainted with his leader, and has a confidence in him; his attachment is sometimes so strong and so lasting, and his affection so great, that commonly he refuses to serve under any other person, and he is known to have died of grief for having in anger killed his governor.

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"The species of the Elephant is numerous, though they bring forth but one young once in two or three years; the shorter the life of animals is, the more they multiply in the Elephant, the length of his life compensates the small number; and if it is true, as has been affirmed, that he lives two hundred years, and that he begets when he is one hundred and twenty years old, each couple brings forth forty young in that space of time; besides, having nothing to fear from other animals, and little even from men, who take them with great difficulty, the species has not decreased, and is generally dispersed in all the southern parts of Africa and Asia.

"From time immemorial, the Indians made use of Elephants in war. Amongst those nations unacquainted with the European military discipline, they were the best troop of their armies; and as long as battles

"In general, the Elephants of Asia are of a larger size, and superior in strength to those of Africa; in particular, those of Ceylon, who exceed in courage and sagacity all those of Asia; probably they owe these qualifications to their education, more improved in Ceylon than any where else. They differ also in other particulars, so as to constitute them a different species.

"His head (says Mr. Bennett) is more oblong, and his forehead presents in the centre a deep concavity between two lateral and rounded elevations; that of the African being round and convex in all its parts. The teeth of the former are composed of transverse vertical laminæ of equal breadth, while those of the latter form rhomboidal or lozenge-shaped divisions. The ears of the Asiatic are also smaller, and descend no lower than his neck, and he exhibits four distinct toes on his hind feet; the African, on the contrary, is furnished with ears of much greater size, descending to his legs, and no more than three toes are visible in his posterior extremities."

"The Elephants of the Indies easily carry burthens of three or four thousand weight; the smallest, that is those of Africa, lift up freely with their trunks burdens of two hundred pounds weight, and place them on their shoulders; they take in this trunk a great quantity of water, which they throw out around them at seven or eight feet distance; they can carry burdens of more than a thousand weight upon their tusks; with their trunk they break branches of trees, and with their tusks they root out the trees. One may judge of their strength by their agility, considering at the same time the bulk of their body; they walk as fast as a small horse on the trot, and when they run, they can keep up with a horse on full gallop, which seldom happens in their wild state, except when they are provoked by anger, or frightened. The tame Elephants travel easily, and without fatigue, fifteen or twenty leagues a day; and when they are hurried, they may travel thirty-five or forty leagues. They are heard at a great distance, and may be followed very near on the track, for the traces which they leave on the ground are not equivocal; and on the ground where the steps of their feet are marked, they are fifteen or eighteen inches in diameter.

"When the Elephant is taken care of, he lives a long while even in captivity. Some authors have written, that he lives four or five hundred years; others, two or three hundred; and the most credible, one hundred and twenty, thirty, and even one hundred and fifty