Identifier: frozenzoneitsexp00hyde (find matches)
Title: The frozen zone and its explorers; a comprehensive record of voyages, travels, discoveries, adventures and whale-fishing in the Arctic regions for one thousand years
Year: 1874 (1870s)
Authors: Hyde, Alexander, 1814-1881 Baldwin, Abraham Chittenden, 1804-1887, joint author Gage, William Leonard, 1832-1889, joint author Shields, Charles W. (Charles Woodruff), 1825-1904
Subjects: Kane, Elisha Kent, 1820-1857 Polaris (Ship)
Publisher: Hartford, Conn. (etc.) Columbia book company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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ny determined, in 1836, to equip an expedi-tion of twelve men under the lead of two of its ownofficers—Peter W. Dease and Thomas Simpson. Thelatter was a young and well-educated Scotchmanwho had resided in the territory since 1829 ; he wasfull of zeal for scientific discovery, and the astronomerand historian of the expedition. Before setting out, Mr. Simpson spent severalmonths at the Red River Settlement, situated nearthe 50th parallel at an elevation of eight or nine hun-dred feet above the sea, which then stretched forupwards of fifty miles along the wooded borders ofthe Red and Assinoboine Rivers which flow througha level country of vast extent. There was no specu-lative motive to induce him to color his picture ofthis region, and he may the more readily be reliedon when he states, that the climate is salubrious, thesoil good, horses, cattle, hogs and poultry numerous ;and til at wheat, barley, oats, and potatoes thrive well inthe vast Red River Valley. This testimony should 288
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A winters journey. 289 remove the suspicions wliicli some have, that morerecent travelers in this section have been induced togive glowing descriptions thereof from mercenaryconsiderations. Mr. Simpson left this colony on the 1st of Decem-ber for his winter Journey of one thousand two hun-dred and seventy-seven miles to Fort Chipewyan, thestarting point of the expedition. A gay cariole andthree sledges drawn by dogs, with three picked menas drivers, made up the retinue. Much of the routelay over the frozen channels of the streams, and fre-quently the tinklings of the dog-bells roused themoose-deer from their lairs. At times the snow wasso deep that snow-shoes had to be worn by thetravelers. Fort Chipewyan, w^here Mr. Dease awaitedhis companion, was reached on the iirst of February. The travelers took their departure from this placeon the 1st of June 1837, and on reaching GreatSlave Lake, ten days afterwards, were disappointedat finding it covered with ice which detained themtill the 2

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