the traders were gradually exploring the country.  The 
great explorers of the period were all connected with 
the fur trade. The first of these was Samuel Hearne, 
a servant of the Hudson's Bay Company.  A band of northern
Indians trading at Prince of Wales Fort, at the mouth 
of the Churchill, showed the traders some copper which 
they had found on the banks of a "great river" in the 
far north-west. The company decided to send a party in 
search of this river, hoping that it might lead to the 
north-west passage. Hearne was placed in charge of this 
party.



Image:
SAMUEL HEARNE


148. Samuel Rearue.-On November 6th, 1769, Prince of Wales
Fort was all astir. Everything was ready for the journey,
and, as Hearne and his companions passed out through the
gate, they were honoured with a salute of seven guns. 
In spite of careful preparations, nothing came of the 
venture. A few days out from Hudson Bay, the guide 
deserted, and, a little later, more than half of the com-
pany  followed  his  example. There was nothing to do but
to return to the fort. Hearne lost no time in preparing
for a second attempt and in two months was again ready to
depart. This time there was no salute to cheer him on his
way. For three months he held a north-westerly course, 
following streams and lakes, and then struck inland 
through the barren grounds. The experiences of the 
travellers were becoming daily more trying. Frequently
they fasted for two or three days at a time. For a week
cranberries, scraps of leather, and burnt bones were their
only food. As if such hardships were not enough, a 
greater misfortune be~ fell them when they were now five
hundred miles away from Prince of Wales Fort. Their 
only quadrant, left in the sun one day, was blown over
by the wind and broken. Unable any longer to take his
bearings, Hearne was forced to turn back and wearily 
retrace his course to Hudson Bay.Hearne's third attempt
met with success. The stream of which the Indians had 
spoken proved to be the Coppermine River. A few days 
travel down stream brought the explorers to the sea, 
the first white men to reach the Arctic Ocean by land.



Image:
SIR ALEXANDER MACKENZIE


149. Alexander Mackenzie. -As in the days of La Verendrye
explorers were still eager to find a way to the 
"Western Sea". Alexander Mackenzie, a partner in the 
North-West Company, was the next to seek this goal. 
Fort Chipewyan, on Lake Athabaska, was the starting
point of Mackenzie's journey.  Before the end of June, 
1789, his party reached the river which now bears the
name of the explorer himself. A week later the explorers
fell in with a band of wild Indians, who were greatly
alarmed at the sight of white men. Stories of haunted
caves and dangerous falls were told by these savages.
Mackenzie was unmoved and even persuaded one of the 
natives to join him as guide. Every day brought 
fresh difficulties and more natives with their 
terrifying tales. At last, deserted by their 

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