Da Grande Riviere en Bas ~~ 69

Hyperborean, which he applies to it time and again. A range
of mountains in the west, the Richardson, vanished north
and south, stretching farther to the north than the edge of
the ice at the distance of more than twenty leagues.

Many islands were in view to the eastward. “My people
could not at this time refrain from expressing real concern,
that they were obliged to return without reaching the sea,
indeed the hope of attaining this object encouraged them to
bear without repining, the hardships of our unremitting
voyage. For some time past their spirits were animated by
the expectation that another day would bring them to the
Mer d’ouest, and even in our present situation they declared
their readiness to follow me wherever I should be pleased
to lead them.”

‘There is a certain apparent indefiniteness in the narrative
at this point. But close attention to Mackenzie’s original
hopes, taken in conjunction with the fact that he had evi-
dently arrived at the Hyperborean Sea where whales, walruses,
porpoises and ice abounded, and Eskimos lived, will make it
clear enough that he expected nothing further in this im-
mediate neighbourhood, but looked for possible information
from the residents, either here or higher up the river, regard-
ing a route to the Pacific that might exist on the western
side of the mountains, His whole purpose at this moment
was to begin retracing his steps, exhausting by the way all
efforts to wring from the natives whatever they knew of
western geography. While he had not expressed his intentions
to his party, nevertheless he was fully determined to follow a
western route to the sea if one should come to his knowledge.