Get this book in print
About this book
My library
Books on Google Play
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Birth and Parentage.-Descent from Lord President
Forbes.-The Laird of Gruinard and his Lady.—Early
Character, Habits, and Training.
CHAPTER II.
Studies for Four Winters at King's College, Aber-
deen. Description of the Mode of Living there its
advantages.-Advice to other Students.-Carries off the
first Prize at Conclusion of his Studies.-Youthful Habits,
Tastes, and Opinions.
CHAPTER III.
Addresses to his Fellow-Students. "On the Break-
ing up of his first Session at the University."—“ On
the Advantages to be derived from the Study of Meta-
physics."
23
CHAPTER IV.
Connexion with the Governor of Hudson's Bay.-His
Career.-Refuses in 1825, and consents in 1828 to go
to Hudson's Bay.-Reasons for abandoning Study for
the Church, and for going to America, detailed in a
Letter to his eldest Brother. — Occupations, Summer
1828.-Letter to the Author.-Sails for America.
44
CHAPTER V.
Arrival in America.-Travels during Summer 1829.
-Light Canoes.- Canadian Voyageurs: their Habits
and Songs.-A Winter in Canada.-L'Ame de Glace.
-Journey to the North-west.-A troublesome Charge.
-Extracts from Letters to the Author.-A pleasant
Residence.
PAGE
57
-
CHAPTER VI.
A Winter Journey of seven hundred Miles. - Life
in the Woods. Red River Colony. - Letter to the
Author on the Death of our eldest Brother.-Sketches
of Character.
CHAPTER VII.
Description of Red River Colony.Letters to the
Author.
71
85
CHAPTER VIII.
Extracts from Letters to the Author.-Difficulties
with Half-breed Natives.-Intercourse with the Author.
-Captain Back's Arctic Expedition.
CHAPTER IX.
Progress of Exploration of the Northern Parts of
America. Summary of Journeys to the Arctic Coast of
America, viz., Hearne's to the Mouth of the Coppermine
River. Mackenzie's Descent to the Arctic Ocean.-
Franklin's First Expedition.-Franklin's Second Expedi-
tion. Ross's Expedition to Prince Regent's Inlet -
Back's Expedition in Search of Ross.-Back's intended
Survey from Wager River-King's contemplated Expe-
dition.—What had been done, and what remained to be
done.
CHAPTER X.
Organization of an Expedition for Arctic Discovery
by the Hudson's Bay Company.-Their Reasons for
this Step.-My Brother called upon to plan the Expedi-
tion. Plans for Arctic Discovery which he drew up.
-“ Instructions" founded thereon.-Teaching in Astro-
nomy. Deficiency of Instruments, and Comments
thereon.
176
CHAPTER XI.
A Winter Journey of One Thousand Two Hundred
and Seventy-seven Miles from Red River to Athabasca.
-Northern Squatters.-A Frontier Fortalice.-Pemican.
-An Octogenarian.-The Secret of Travelling in the
Far North.
194
CHAPTER XII.
Reasons for the Author's Preference of his Brother's
Correspondence to his Narrative.-Preliminary Arrange-
ments of the Expedition.-Feelings on entering on Arctic
Discovery.
215
CHAPTER XIII.
Expedition from Mackenzie's River to Point Barrow.
-Summer 1837.-Letters to the Directors of the Hud-
son's Bay Company, Governor Simpson, and the Author.
-Opinions of the Press in regard to the Expedition's
first Operations.
CHAPTER XIV.
Transactions, Autumn 1837 to Spring 1838, detailed
in Letters. Climate of Fort Confidence.-Housekeeping
229
CHAPTER XV.
Expedition of 1838 to the Eastward of the Coppermine
River. Its Comparative Failure. My Brother's
Opinions thereon, detailed in his Letters.-Opinions of
the English Press, and the Public.
CHAPTER XVI.
Winter 1838-39.-Preparations for a renewed Arctic
Voyage. Instructions to the Reserve.-Last Will.-
Completely Successful Expedition of Summer 1839.
-Return to Red River Colony.
CHAPTER XVII.
Schemes for a renewed Expedition.-Their Reception
by Governor Simpson; by the Directors of the Hudson's
Bay Company.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Letters written to the Author from Red River Colony.
-Departs for England, viâ the Prairies.—“Last scene of
all."-Depositions of the Survivors, and Observations
thereon.-Appearance.-Character.
CHAPTER XIX.
The Rewards of Service. The Author's Correspon-
dence with Sir Robert Peel, Bart.-Sir John Barrow,
Bart. The Hudson's Bay Company.-Sir George Simp-
287
307
331
345
son.
374
Postscript on Arctic Discovery.
397
The Indians of Northern America.-An Inquiry into
their Character.-Their Condition.
403