GovernorDobbs, in the Account mentioned P. 45, mentions, 'thatJoseph le Francewas acquainted with anIndian, who lived at some Distance fromNelsonRiver inHudson's Bay, who, about 15 Years before that Time, went to War against a Nation living Northward on the Western Ocean ofAmerica. When they went they carried their Families with them, and hunted and fished from Place to Place for two Winters and one Summer, having left their Country in Autumn, and inAprilfollowing came to the Sea Side, on the Western Coast,where they immediately made their Canoes. At some little Distance they saw an Island, which was about a League and a Half long when the Tide was out, or Water fell, they had no Water betwixt them and the Island, but when it rose it covered all the Passage betwixt them and the Island, as high up as the Woods upon the Shore. There they left their Wives and Children, and old Men, to conduct them home and provide them with Provisions, by hunting and shooting for them on the Road; and he, with thirty Warriors, went in Quest of their Enemies theTete Plat. After they parted with their Families they came to a Streight, which they passed in their Canoes. The Sea Coast lay almost East and West; for he said the Sun rose upon his Right Hand, and at Noon it was almost behind him as he passed the Streight, and always set in the Sea. After passing the Streight they coasted along the Shore three Months, going into the Country or Woods as they went along to hunt for Provisions. He said they saw a great many large black Fish spouting up Water in the Sea. After they had coasted for near three Months, they saw the Footsteps of some Men on the Sand; then judged they were near their Enemies, quitted their Canoes, went five Days through the Woods to the Banks of a River, found their Enemy's Town, made an Attack, the Enemy rallied and put them to flight.' Then proceeds, 'upon which they fled to the Woods, and from thence made their Escape to their Canoes before their Enemies overtook them, and after a great deal of Fatigue got to the Streight; and, after getting over, they all died one after the other, except this old Man, of Fatigue and Famine, leaving him alone to travel to his own Country, which took him up about a Year's Time.' When he reached the RiverSakiehe met his Friends again, who relieved him.
TheIndiansthat this antientIndianwent to War against, (and thisIndianwas living atYork FortinHudson's Bay in 1746) are mentioned to be theTete Plat, orPlascotez de Chicus. The Part which they inhabit is variously laid down by the Geographers; by some in Lat. 67, Long. 265 East fromFerro, which is the extremest Longitude that their Country is laid down in. Mons.de Lisleand others place them in Lat. 63, and Long. 280 East fromFerro, so their true Situation is uncertain. Yet it is apparent that they do not live near to or on the Coast of theSouth Sea, or Western Ocean. For whatJoseph le Francein this Account, and so of allIndians,meant by the Word Sea is any Mass or Collection of Salt Waters which have a Tide. P. 38, in the same Work, giving an Account of theIndianspassing down toYork Fort. 'The Riverde Terre Rouge, and from that Place they descend gradually to the Sea.' By whichJoseph le FrancemeansHudson's Bay. GovernorDobbsmentioning the Western Ocean ofAmericais a Mistake, which he was led into as having a Consistency with the System which he had adopted. These Warriors left their own Country in Autumn, are said to have lived nearPort NelsonorYork Fort, and were at the Sea Side inApril. Their not being sooner is not to be attributed to the Length of the Journey but to the Season of the Year. The oldIndianwas a Year returning to his own Country; but he was fatigued and almost famished, so labouring under a great Debility, and had his Food to seek in whatever Manner he could procure it. The Winter also came on soon after his return from the Enemy. They were on the Western Side of the Land, which separatesHudson's Bay from that Sea, where they saw so great a Tide. Afterwards passed a Streight, which Streight lay North and South. The Sea they came from and the Sea they passed into after such Streight, laid East and West. They continually kept the Western Shore, as that was the Side on which their Enemy lived; and though they were so long as three Months in their Passage, they were obliged to go every Day ashore to hunt, being thirty in Company, required a pretty considerable Subsistance. Their Canoes can bear no Serge or Wave when the Wind blows, therefore are obliged to keep close to the Shore, and must go to the Bottom of each Bay.
This Account agrees both with that ofde Fonteandde Fuca. The Sea they imbarked on was that at the Back ofHudson's Bay, and the Streight might be formed by some Island, or both the Shores approach each other, tho' the Account is not sufficiently intelligible to make any Description of it in the Map.De Fucasays the Streight grew wider when he entered such Sea, which seems to imply it had been narrow. And theIndians, as before-mentioned, said there was a Streight, and they can perceive the Land on the other Side.De Fucaalso mentions he went ashore, and found the Land fruitful, and rich of Gold and Silver and Pearls, and other Things, likeNova Hispania. Which shews it was a mixed Country; for a fruitful Country and a Produce of Gold and Silver is not aDescription compatible with one and the same Part. The one we may suppose the Description of the Parts nearer the Ocean, the other of the Parts where theTete Platlive: But the oldIndianseems also to make a Distinction; for he says they went to hunt in the Country and the Woods. When they had passed the Streight, they came into the broader Part of the Streight ofAnian, which appeared to them to be a Sea. As to the Place of their Imbarkation, they would be directed by where they could procure Birch to make their Canoes.
The true Situation of the Part they went to, nor where they imbarked is not to be determined with any Certainty; but it doth not carry the least Probability that they went to War with a People more than a thousand Miles distant. It is scarce probable they had ever heard the Name of the Inhabitants of those Parts, much more so acquainted with their Situation as to be able to form a Plan of going to conquer them. There must have been some particular Cause for their going to War with a People so far off; what that was it would be difficult to imagine; if it was only to shew their Prowess, they must have had Enemies nearer home, against whom there was a greater Probability of succeeding. Neither could it be at that Distance, as they had one continued Scene of Fatigue until they reached the Streights; their Hearts broken by Reason of the Disappointment, the Heat of Summer, no venturing ashore but for a very short Time, either for Food or Refreshment, as they expected the Conquerors to follow them with Canoes, it would have been impossible for them to have reached the Streight. If they had a hundred Leagues a direct Course until they attained the Place of their Imbarkation, and by going round the Bays, might be near twice that Distance, the Current also against them, it would be sufficient, stout young Fellows, and full of Blood as they were, for what they underwent to be fatal to them. It is evident the Streight was not far from where they imbarked, and the Relation seems to express it so, as they had such a Fatigue in attaining to it. Allowing theTete Platto be in Long. 108 Degrees fromLondon, and the true Course was W. S. W. or E. N. E. on their return, with a Distance of a hundred Leagues, they would alter their Latitude 114 Miles, and make 277 Miles Departure, which, with 27 Miles to a Degree, would make the Place of their Imbarkation to be in Longitude 98 fromLondon, about the Longitude ofRonquillo. As to theLatitude where theTete Plat Indianslive, and as to the Longitude it is but conjecture; there is such a Discordancy and Contradiction in the Maps, there is such Uncertainty, that the North-west and West Parts beyondHudson's Bay in the Latitude ofChurchill, seem to be entirely unknown. But this is to be observed, and which has been my Direction in these Observations, theNorthern Indiansand theHome Indiansabout the Factory ofYorkFort, mention theseTete Plat Indians, and speak of them as their Enemies, therefore they cannot be at so great a Distance as the Western Ocean, neither further than where I have supposed their Country to be. For as the Time theIndianswere going there three Months, that is not to be considered so much with respect to the Distance, as they would choose a proper Season, when there were the fewestIndiansin the Towns, and were mostly engaged abroad in their Summer hunting. Perhaps there are no People who plan better in the Partizan Way, and execute with more Success. They fix the Time they intend to make their Attack before they set out, then proceed easily and gradually towards their Enemy's Country, allowing a Sufficiency of Time in which they may recover any Accident by which they might be delayed, as unseasonable Weather, Difficulty and Disappointments as to procuring Subsistance, or any Indisposition, that they go to Action in their full Strength and Vigour; as anIndianwho conducts an Expedition would be as much contemned for Want of Prudence, on his Return to the Towns, as he would for his Want of Conduct in leading his People to an Attack, and when the Enemy was too powerful not bringing them off without the Loss of a Scalp. In either of which Cases the young People, who observe freely the most exact Discipline, and implicitly obey what he orders, would not go any more to War with him.
Which Way theBostonShip made this Passage is uncertain.Gibbonswas acquainted withBylot, was Shipmate with him in SirThomas Button's Voyage.Bylotwas also withGibbonsthe Time he lost his Season, by being detained in the Ice.Bylotmade an Expedition for Discovery of a Passage in the Year 1615, on SirThomas Buttonhaving at a Trial of a Tide off the Island ofNottingham, inHudson's Streights, found it came from the North-west, and to be from an Opening at the Back ofCary'sSwans-nest, this Tide he went in Pursuit of; and was as far up as Lat. 65 Deg. 26 Min. then supposed where he was was nothing but a Bay,but could not (he had gone up the East) return down the West Shore. WhetherGibbonstook his Information fromBylot, and pursued his Plan, is uncertain, and found his Way round the Head ofRepulseBay. He was also acquainted with whatFoxhad done, who went into Lat. 66 Deg. 5 Min. so further thanBylot, who did not return down the Western Shore; but his People being indisposed, and not finding a North-west Tide, he hastened home. These Parts, therefore, were not properly searched, the Conclusion drawn for there not being a Passage there, being that the Tide came from the Eastward.
Or whetherGibbonswent throughHudson's Bay is equally uncertain. The undiscovered Parts of which Bay, or the Openings that were not determined in the Expedition in the Year 1747, are in a Map hereto annexed. But the Termination ofChesterfield's orBowden's Inlet hath been since searched by the Direction of theHudson's Bay Company, and a Plan made of it, which I have not seen. Their Design was to go as far up such Inlet until it terminated, or there was a Passage into another Water. But as it is terminated by Land, and if there is no Inlet or Opening left on the North or South Shore unsearched, or a Survey taken from the Heights, by which they could be satisfied there was no Communication with any other Waters by which there could be a Passage, it is to be concluded thatChesterfieldInlet is no Streight or Passage as was expected, and it appeared to be as far as theCaliforniasBoat went up, according to the Report made at that Time. The People who had been in the Boat belonging to theCalifornia, when the Ship was going upWagerBay, where, from the Depth of the Water, the Breadth between both Shores, the high mountainous Land, there was great Reason to believe there was a Streight or Passage: Those People declared, if there was a Streight they were assured thatChesterfieldInlet was a Streight also.
There remains then to be searched for the Discovery of a Passage, the Opening calledPistol Bay, inHudson's Bay. That Part whichBylotandFoxleft undetermined, along the Coast to Southward ofBaffinsBay calledCumberlandIsles, which entirely consists of large Inlets and broken Lands. We may be too premature in our Conclusions as to the Impracticability of such a Passage from the high Latitude and the Shortnessof the Season, as we have the Instance of theBostonShip, which was so far advanced in the Sea to Westward ofHudson's Bay in the Month ofAugust; and some Time would be taken up in finding out the Way. The strong Tides that set in, and the Current when to Westward, which there is apparently in the other Sea, may give an Expedition that may compensate against the Shortness of the Season. It is but a short Time that would be required to pass that Part of the Passage which lies in those high Latitudes, as the Course would be soon altered to the Southward.
TheDiscoveriesmade in theNorth West PartsOFHUDSONS BAY. By Capt. Smith in 1746 & 1747.
TheDiscoveriesmade in theNorth West PartsOFHUDSONS BAY. By Capt. Smith in 1746 & 1747.
Seyxas y Lovera, in hisTheatro Naval Hydrographico, in the seventh Chapter, P. 426, says, 'North-east ofAmericathere is the Coast ofGreenland, from sixty to sixty-eight Degrees, where there is to the East the Entrance of the Streight ofFrobisher. North-west in the different Islands which compose the Northern Parts ofAmerica, there is the Entrance of the Streight ofHudson, where theNorth Seacommunicates with theSouth Sea, passing out of the Entrance of the Streight ofAnian, which runs North-east and South-west to the Northward of the Island ofCalifornia, which Streight is hid by great Gulphs on the Part that is North ofAmerica, which contain such great Islands, asCumberland(orEstoliland) that are more than one hundred Leagues in Length from North-east to South-west, and their Extremity from East to West more than seventy Leagues.'—Page 44. 'Some hold it for certain that you can sail fromSpaintoChinathrough those Streights, or toJapan, or to the Lands ofEso, in three Months. As says also DoctorPedro de Syria; but it is the Opinion ofD. T. V. Y.Author of the History of theImperialStates of the World, that he holds it for uncertain whether there is such Streight by which you can pass from theNorthto theSouth Sea.—P. 45. There were some of the Subjects of the King ofFrance, who offered themselves, if they could get his Majesty's Licence, to perform that Voyage in four Months; entering theCanal de Hudsonfrom out of the Ocean, with a Course North-west or West North-west, taking always a Sight of the Coast at Noon, they should attain to the Height of theArcticCircle, or one Degree more, as in making that Voyage they will be favoured in that Part by the Currents and Winds from the East and South-east, and afterwards intheir Passage by the Streight ofAnian, the Winds and Currents would be from the North.—It is said that some Strangers (on what Occasion is not said) have gone that Rout; and that there is in the Archives of the Admiralty ofLisbon, and of theContratacion at Seville, a Copy of such Rout; what I here observe is the same with whatDon Francisco de San Millanobserves, from which or from the Copy of which Rout to be seen in various Languages, or the Disposition of the said Streights, he holds it for certain that there is such a Course, and relates, That aHollander, on the Evidence of aSpaniardwho was aboard his Ship, from the North ofCalifornia, forced by the Winds from South-west, attained to sixty-six Degrees North-east, afterwards took a Course East, and East South-east, came into fifty-eight Degrees, when he entered theNorth Seato Northward ofTerra Nova, from thence toScotland, and fromScotlandtoLisbon, in less than three Months from the Port ofNativadadtoLisbon, of which Voyage he makes no Doubt.' AndSeyxasobserves, he hath seen many other Accounts of Voyages made fromHolland, also fromEngland, to theSouth Seain three or four Months, which he much doubts, from the Shortness of the Time; also as in theSpanishHistorians they have an Account of what passes in the several Parts of theSouth Sea, inCathay, andChina, and no such Thing is to be found in theBibliothecaof the LicentiateAntonio de Leon, which sets forth all the Discoveries and Voyages which have been made from any Region from the Year 1200 inAmerica.
It is plain from the Account ofSeyxas, he doth not determine absolutely for a Passage, but that there is a Passage is his Opinion. His chief Objection is to the Accounts from the Brevity of the Time in which the Voyages were said to be performed, and there being no Account in a careful Writer of the Discoveries made in those Parts. He doth not confine the Passage toHudson's Bay, as I understand him, but to the Streight and the other Openings to Northward throughCumberlandIsles, and that they go up into as high a Latitude as theArcticCircle. Which is agreeable toAcosta's Account, and gives a further Explanation to his Meaning than I have already done. As to which Isles, and to the Northward and Eastward ofCary'sSwans-nest, it is apparent, from the Perusalof the Voyages, there hath been no certain Account on a compleat Discovery as to those Parts. What he says as to the Voyage of theHollander, it must be observed it was whileHollandwas under theSpanishGovernment in the Reign ofPhilipthe Second, and seems to be the same Voyage, of which Mention hath been made that an Account was found amongst the Papers of that Prince.
It hath been shewn to have been the constant Opinion of there being a North-west Passage, from the Time soon after which theSouth Seawas discovered near the Western Part ofAmerica, and that this Opinion was adopted by the greatest Men not only in the Time they lived, but whose Eminence and great Abilities are revered by the present Age. That there is a Sea to Westward ofHudson's Bay, there hath been given the concurrent Testimony ofIndians; and of Navigators andIndiansthat there is a Streight which unites such Sea with the Western Ocean. The Voyage which lead us into these Considerations, hath so many Circumstances relating to it, which, now they have been considered, shew the greatest Probability of its being authentick; which carry with them as much the Evidence of a Fact, afford as great a Degree of Credibility as we have for any Transaction done a long Time since, which hath not been of a publick Nature and transacted in the Face of the World, so as to fall under the Notice of every one, though under the Disadvantage that the Intent on one Part must have been to have it concealed and buried in Oblivion. Transacted also by Persons in a private Part of the World, who only spoke of it amongst their Friends at home, being themselves Strangers to what they had effected, and made little Account of their Voyage. Besides the Chagrin of their Disappointment, and the illnatured Reflections it might subject them to, they might think it also best not to communicate it to the Publick, as it might encourage others to the like Undertaking, and so they fall into the Hands of theSpaniards, not only at the Hazard of their Ship, but their Lives, or at least subject them to many Hardships such as they had sustained to no Purpose. Therefore they thought proper to say little about their Discovery, as it might only be a Means of entrapping some brave Adventurers, who might be animated by their Example to a like Undertaking. These would be and were, by its being so little published on their Parts,(and no Accounts of it inEngland, which shews their Friends were under an Injunction not to make it publick) the Resolutions of such sensible and sagacious Men asGibbonsandShapleywere agreeable to which they acted. All which Circumstances considered, what Degree of Evidence can be required more than hath been given to authenticate this Account ofde Fonte?
Those who argue against a North-west Passage have no better Foundation for their Arguments, Than that there is no Tide from Westward. Which is arguing only for the Truth of a System, and hath nothing to do with the Reality of a Passage, and in all Probability hath been the principal Occasion that a Passage hath not been compleated: For a different Course of the Land, and no Tide from Westward, concluded any further Searches in such Part, but on a due Survey made of the Map, as the Tide will enter up the Streight ofde Fuca, and probably other contiguous Entrances which are not yet known, besides the North-east Branch of theSouth Sea, which we suppose to join with such Streight; the Tide would fill that Sea on the Back ofHudson's Bay, and the Openings but be checked to the Northward by the Current; and may be hindered from coming intoHudson's Bay through the Inlet from Causes not known, or there being great Indraughts on the opposite Shore, which may take off the Force of the Tide, and cause it to come but a small Way up such Inlet. There is Reason to believe the proper Passage is up the Streight ofde Fuca, therefore that is the proper Streight ofAnian, asde Fonteproceeded no further thanLos Reyes, and declared there was no North-west Passage; but the North-east Part of theSouth Seahath a Communication, as is expressed in the Map, in describing which a Certainty cannot be expected, or an Exactness but what may be contradicted if a Discovery be made. The Design of the Map, besides what relates to the Expedition ofde Fonte, is to shew there is a Streight, called the Streight ofde Fuca. A Sea at the Head of that Streight, at the Back ofHudson's Bay, from which Sea there is a Passage either by an Inlet intoHudson's Bay, or by a Streight at the Head ofRepulseBay, and so to Northward ofHudson's Bay; from which Streight there is a Passage into theNorth Sea, either to Eastward of the Land ofCary'sSwans-nestintoHudson's Streight, or byCumberlandIsles, and expressedin the Map in the Manner that the respective Accounts represent, according to our Understanding of them, with a Submission to Correction and superior Judgment. But an absolute Contradiction without invalidating the Accounts on which such Map is constructed, or to say there is no North-west Passage, which it is impossible should be determined until a Search is made in the Parts which remain to be searched, are no Objections, are only Opinions, without any Authority to support them, which Time must rectify.
To make an Expedition to discover whether there is a Passage by those Parts which remain unsearched, purposely fromEngland, is what I think an honest, disinterested, or impartial Person cannot recommend, as such Expeditions might be repeated with great Expence, and the Event uncertain. The Government gave their Assistance, and the Generosity of the Merchants hath been sufficiently experienced, both inEnglandandAmerica: Therefore it becomes every one whose Intention it is solely that such a beneficial Service should be done to avoid proposing what, might, in the Consequence, be an unnecessary Expence to Government, and abuse the Generosity of the Merchants.
The Ships which went on these Expeditions, after they left theOrkneys, had no Place to put into, neither could they there Wood or Water, or conveniently repair a Damage. If they met with a Delay in passingHudson's Streights, they were obliged, from the small Part of the Season that was remaining, to go to theHudson's Bay Factories to winter; that they might have the more Time the next Year; were obliged to go to the Factories earlier than they were necessitated on Account of the Weather, in order to get their Ships laid up, and every other Convenience for wintering prepared before that the Winter set in. TheHudson's Bay Company, jealous of a Design to interfere with their Trade, probably their Fears not ill grounded, the Consequence was, there was no Cordiality between the Factors and the Captains. The Ships People, by wintering, suffered in their Health, great Wages going on, a Consumption of Provisions, a Spirit of Discontent and Opposition amongst the inferior Officers, which obstructed the Success of the next Summer. To obviate all which in any future Proceedings, a Discovery was undertaken on the Coast ofLabrador, to find Harbours on that Coast which Ships; could repair to if necessary on their Voyage out, or to repair to on theirreturn, which they could be at sooner than at the Factories, stay longer on Discovery, and return the same Year toEngland. How well this Attempt answered the Design, may be collected from the Extract from a Journal of a Voyage hereunto annexed, performed in the Year 1753, giving an Account of the Coast ofLabrador. As what is now to be done in the Discovery of a Passage inHudson's Bay may be effected in a Summer, and if there is the desired Success, an Inlet found by which there is a Passage into the Sea adjacent out of that Bay, the Vessel which makes such Discovery, and all Ships at their return by such Inlet, will have no Occasion to go to the Southern Part of the Bay, it will be out of their Course, but proceed through the Streights toLabrador, there Wood and Water, get fresh Fish, and other Refreshments; can repair any Damage either as to their Masts, or their Hull, and return the same Year toEnglandby the common Tract of theNewfoundlandShips, and not to go to theOrkneys.
That there was a good fishing Bank, a Coast convenient for carrying on a Fishery, a Fur Trade, also for Whalebone and Oil with theEskemaux Indians, was a Discovery the Consequence of that Attempt fromAmerica. To take the Benefit of which Discovery seems now to be the Intention of the Publick. And a Survey of such Coast being ordered to be made by the Government, if such Survey is extended so far as to those Parts, in which as already mentioned such Passage must be, and without it is so far extended, the Design of attaining a true Geographical Account of the Northern Coasts ofAmericawould be incompleat. By this Means it must be known whether there is such a Passage, the Probability of which is unquestionable. Also by such Survey a better Account will be got which Way the Whales take their Courses, and consequently where it is best to go in Pursuit of them. Also as to thoseEskemauxwho frequent to Northward ofHudson's Streights, where they retire to, and a proper Place be found to keep a Fair with them. As theseEskemauxas well as those onGreenlandSide, who have not come into those Parts any long Duration of Time, being the same Kind ofIndianswith those in theSouth Sea, and as they transport themselves and Families from one Part to another by Water, it seems highly probable that it is by such a Passage or Streight that they have got so far to Eastward. This Discovery of aPassage can be made without any additional Expence, wove in with other Services, as was in the Discoveries which were ordered to be made by the King ofSpainon the Coasts ofCalifornia. The Propriety of a Vessel to make such a Survey, and the Abilities and Fidelity of the Persons will be undoubtedly taken Care for. The Run fromLabrador, let it be from any Harbour, will be but small to any where, where it is necessary to make the Survey. The Persons sent will go fresh out of Harbour, whereas, with a Run from theOrkneys, the People are fatigued; will now be refreshed as if they had not come fromEurope. Will be out from such Harbour but a few Weeks, in a fine Season of the Year, no Way debilitated by the Scurvy, and in a few Summers will be enabled to compleat their Survey of that Coast; using such an Assiduity as they proceed as not to leave any Part on Supposition or Trust, but being assured where any Inlet or Opening determines. A Person who understandsEskemaux, and one or moreEskemauxto be procured, would be of Service as Pilots, and to give an Account of the adjacent Country. And there is no Vessel (it is mentioned as perhaps it is not so very well known) so proper and serviceable for this long-shore Work as a Marble-head Schooner, about sixty Tons, fortified as to the Ice, and would be at all Times a useful Tender, and a proper Boat if necessary to be left at theLabrador. What would give due Force to such Expeditions, would be the Commodore of the Man of War being so near, under whose Eye the Whole would be done, who would direct their fitting out, receive their Report on their return, order a Review if necessary, and be the Occasion of that due Subordination and Obedience both of Officers and Men, which it is often very difficult to effect on such Voyages. Merit will then be distinguished, and the Credulity of the Persons at home will not be imposed on, and no Discouragement of those who distinguish themselves in the Execution of such laudable Attempts. Such a Passage being discovered, and the Sea entered to Westward ofHudson's Bay, the Manner of proceeding afterwards must be left to superior Judgment.