In the mid-nineteenth century, the northern coastline of North America was of particular interest to the Hudson's Bay Company as it was believed to hold the key to the elusive North-West Passage, a trade route from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Recruited to lead a team to survey part of this forbidding region, the Scottish explorer John Rae (1813–93) undertook his first expedition during 1846–7. It was remarkable not only for its success, but also because Rae's was the first crew to overwinter in the Arctic. Unlike other Victorian explorers, Rae embraced the culture of the Inuit and learnt to live off the land like them, which enabled him to complete his survey. First published in 1850, this journal relates the details of his journey as well as how he and his men survived the extreme conditions. It remains a valuable document in the history of Arctic exploration.
Contents
1. Origin and plan of the expedition; 2. Depart from Churchill; 3. Receive a visit from a female party; 4. State of things at Repulse Bay; 5. Winter arrangements completed; 6. Set out for the north; 7. Preparations for exploring the coast of Melville Peninsula; 8. Occurrences at Fort Hope during the absence of the exploring party; 9. Voyage from Repulse Bay to York Factory; Appendix: List of mammalia; List of birds; List of fishes; List of plants; Specimens of rocks; Dip of the needle and force of magnetic attraction at various stations; Abstract of meteorological journal from September 1846 to August 1847.
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