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Mackenzie--Arrive at Sacred Island--Esquimaux Graves--Interview with the Natives; their thievish disposition--Attempt to gain possession of the Union--Heavy Gale--Find Shelter in Refuge Cove--Low Coast--Mirage--Stopped by Ice at Point Toker--Reach the Sea. [Sidenote: July 4th.] The two parties of which the Expedition was composed, having spent the evening of the 3rd of July in cheerful conversation about their future prospects, prepared to separate on the morning of the 4th. By six o'clock all the boats were stowed; and Captain Franklin, Lieutenant Back, and their party, had committed themselves to the stream in the Lion and Reliance; while the Eastern Detachment, drawn up on the beach, cheered them on their departure with three hearty huzzas. The voices of our friends were heard in reply until the current had carried their boats round a projecting point of land, when we also embarked to proceed on our voyage. Our detachment was composed of twelve individuals, distributed in two boats, named the Dolphin and Union. IN THE DOLPHIN. IN THE UNION. Dr. Richardson. Mr. Kendall. Thomas Gillet, _Coxswain_. John M'Leay, _Coxswain_. John M'Lellan, _Bowman_. George Munroe, _Bowman_. Shadrach Tysoe, _Marine_. William Money, _Marine_. Thomas Fuller, _Carpenter_. John M'Duffey. Ooligbuck, _Esquimaux_. George Harkness. The instructions we received were, to trace the coast between the Mackenzie and Coppermine Rivers, and to return from the latter overland to Great Bear Lake. Ice was the only impediment we dreaded as likely to prove an obstacle to the execution of these orders. We knew that the direct distance between the two rivers did not amount to five hundred miles; and, having provisions for upwards of eighty days stowed in the boats, we were determined not to abandon the enterprize on light grounds, especially after we had seen the friends that had just parted from us embark with so much cheerfulness in their more arduous undertaking. On leaving Point Separation we pulled, for two hours, against the current, to regain the entrance of the "Middle Channel," which was first explored by Mackenzie, on his way to the sea, in 1798, and more perfectly surveyed by Captain Franklin, on his voyage to Garry's Island, last autumn. It has a breadth of nearly a mile, and a depth of from three to five fathoms; though in one place
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