Narrative of an Expedition to the Shores of the Arctic Sea in 1846 and 1847 Informative Summary

Overview:

John Rae’s expedition was a significant undertaking in the exploration of the Arctic coast of North America. The text documents Rae’s journey from Churchill, Manitoba to Repulse Bay, Nunavut in 1846. It was undertaken under the auspices of the Hudson’s Bay Company and was primarily focused on completing the geographical survey of the Arctic coast. Rae and his crew faced numerous obstacles including harsh weather conditions, challenging terrain, and limited supplies. The expedition involved a complex navigation strategy, utilizing boats and sleds, and navigating through ice and open water. Despite the challenges, the expedition provided valuable insight into the geography of the region, the Inuit culture, and the harshness of the Arctic environment.

The expedition was planned to take two years to complete, but the harsh winter conditions and the difficulty of the terrain forced Rae to return to Churchill without fully completing the survey. During the winter months, the team learned Inuit techniques for building snow houses, hunted for food, and had regular contact with the local Inuit people. The expedition made significant discoveries in terms of the geography of the Arctic coast, including the discovery of the easternmost extent of the Canadian mainland and the western side of Melville Peninsula.

Key Findings:

The expedition provided a more accurate depiction of the Arctic coastline.
Rae documented significant geographic features like the isthmus connecting Melville Peninsula to the mainland, providing insight into the landmass structure.
Rae’s encounters with the Inuit provided valuable ethnographic data, shedding light on their customs, subsistence methods, and culture.

Learning:

Survival in the Arctic: The text showcases the knowledge and skills required to survive in the Arctic environment. It highlights the reliance on Inuit expertise and ingenuity for navigation, shelter, and hunting, demonstrating the crucial role of indigenous knowledge in Arctic exploration.
- Snow house building: Rae and his crew learned to build snow houses from the Inuit, showcasing their adaptability and resourcefulness. This demonstrates how the Inuit, through centuries of experience, had mastered the use of snow for shelter.
- Hunting and fishing: The expedition relied heavily on hunting and fishing to supplement their supplies. This illustrates the challenges of procuring food in a harsh environment and the importance of understanding the natural cycles and patterns of the region.
- Interacting with the Inuit: Rae details his interactions with the Inuit, demonstrating the importance of building relationships and understanding cultural nuances for successful Arctic exploration.
Geography of the Arctic: Rae’s expedition expanded geographical knowledge about the Arctic coast.
- The Eastern Extent of the Canadian Mainland: Rae mapped the easternmost extent of the Canadian mainland and the western side of Melville Peninsula, revealing the true shape of the landmass. This was a significant discovery at the time, contributing to a better understanding of North America’s geography.
- The Isthmus Connecting Melville Peninsula: The expedition discovered the isthmus connecting Melville Peninsula to the mainland, challenging the notion that Boothia Peninsula was an island. This discovery contributed to a more accurate understanding of the Arctic landscape.

Historical Context:

The expedition took place during the early 19th century, a time of significant Arctic exploration.
The text provides context for the search for the lost Franklin expedition, a prominent event in Arctic exploration history.
It reflects the growing interest in mapping and understanding the Arctic region during this period.

Facts:

The expedition was organized by the Hudson’s Bay Company: The Company, a major fur trading enterprise in Canada, was actively involved in Arctic exploration and supported several expeditions during this period.
The primary goal was to complete the geographical survey of the Arctic coast: The Hudson’s Bay Company sought to map the remaining unknown parts of the Arctic coastline, which was crucial for trade routes and scientific understanding.
Rae was a skilled traveler and expert in the Arctic: He had previously worked in the Arctic for the Hudson’s Bay Company and had extensive experience in survival and navigating the challenging terrain.
The expedition utilized two boats, the “North Pole” and the “Magnet”: The boats were specially constructed for the expedition, indicating the careful planning and resources devoted to the undertaking.
Rae’s crew consisted of experienced men from various backgrounds, including Orkneymen, Canadians, and Cree Indians: The diverse crew reflected the multicultural nature of the Hudson’s Bay Company and the skills necessary for Arctic survival.
The expedition included two Inuit interpreters, Ouligbuck and his son: The presence of Inuit interpreters was essential for communication, navigation, and understanding local customs.
The expedition faced numerous challenges, including harsh weather conditions, challenging terrain, and limited supplies: This reflects the harshness of the Arctic environment and the difficulties faced by explorers of the period.
Rae decided to discontinue the survey in 1846 due to the severe winter conditions and limited supplies: This demonstrates the realities of Arctic exploration and the need to prioritize survival over exploration in extreme circumstances.
Rae’s team learned to build snow houses from the Inuit: This highlights the Inuit people’s profound understanding of the Arctic environment and their ability to adapt to challenging conditions.
The expedition encountered several Inuit groups who provided information and assistance: This showcases the crucial role of indigenous people in Arctic exploration and their ability to guide and assist explorers.
The expedition established a winter camp named “Fort Hope”: The construction of a winter camp demonstrates the planning and preparation involved in a long-term Arctic expedition.
The expedition faced frequent visits from the Inuit, requiring careful management of resources: This illustrates the challenges of navigating intercultural encounters and balancing resource management with cultural sensitivity.
The expedition used dogs for pulling sleds: This highlights the important role of dogs in Arctic transportation, demonstrating how indigenous knowledge and practices were incorporated into Arctic exploration.
The expedition encountered large flocks of geese, ducks, and other migratory birds: This demonstrates the abundance and diversity of wildlife in the Arctic region and its importance for subsistence hunting.
The expedition faced several snowstorms, highlighting the harshness of the Arctic winter: This illustrates the danger and difficulty of traveling in the Arctic during the winter months.
The expedition discovered a large wooden sledge made of ship timber: This provides evidence of previous Arctic expeditions and the challenges they faced, suggesting that the Franklin expedition may have been in difficulty.
The expedition traced the easternmost extent of the Canadian mainland: This significant discovery contributed to a more accurate understanding of North America’s geography.
The expedition discovered the isthmus connecting Melville Peninsula to the mainland: This discovery was crucial in challenging the notion that Boothia Peninsula was an island and provided important information about the Arctic landscape.
The expedition encountered Inuit who had been in contact with the Franklin expedition: This provides further evidence of the Franklin expedition’s presence in the region and its potential fate.
The expedition utilized Halkett’s air boat, a lightweight and portable vessel: This illustrates the ingenuity and innovation involved in Arctic exploration and the importance of utilizing new technologies.

Statistics:

The expedition consisted of thirteen people, including two Inuit interpreters: This reveals the size and composition of the team, highlighting its small scale and reliance on Indigenous expertise.
The two boats were 22 feet long and 7 feet 6 inches wide: This provides a sense of the size and capacity of the boats, indicating their suitability for navigating the challenging Arctic waters.
Each boat could carry 50-60 pieces of goods weighing 90 lbs each: This reflects the significant amount of supplies required for a long-term expedition.
The expedition carried 20 bags of pemmican, each weighing 90 lbs: This highlights the reliance on pemmican, a nutrient-rich food, for sustenance during the expedition.
The expedition carried 25 bags of flour, each weighing 1 cwt.: This indicates the importance of flour as a staple food source for the expedition.
The expedition was to last 15 to 27 months: This reflects the long-term nature of the expedition and the challenges of enduring such a prolonged period in the Arctic.
The expedition’s total provisions were enough for four months at full allowance: This highlights the precarious nature of the expedition’s supply situation and the importance of effective resource management.
The expedition traveled approximately 600 English miles on foot: This provides a sense of the expedition’s scale and the endurance required to undertake such a long journey.
The ice on North Pole River froze to the bottom on the 28th of December: This illustrates the extreme cold of the Arctic winter and the challenges of navigating frozen waterways.
The temperature on the 9th of January reached -72° below the freezing point: This demonstrates the extreme cold experienced by the expedition and the dangers associated with such low temperatures.
The expedition’s boat was buried under 12 feet of snow: This reveals the intensity of the winter snowfall and the challenges of maintaining equipment during the winter.
The expedition encountered a band of seventeen wolves: This highlights the presence of predators in the Arctic and the potential dangers they posed to the expedition.
The ice on the lake was 6 feet 10 inches thick on the 26th of March: This demonstrates the thickness of the ice during the spring and the challenges of navigating frozen water.
The expedition used four dogs for pulling sleds: This reveals the importance of dogs in Arctic transportation and their essential role in the expedition’s success.
The expedition encountered musk oxen, a significant source of food for the Inuit: This highlights the importance of understanding the local ecology and wildlife for survival in the Arctic.
The expedition traveled 18 geographical miles on the 7th of April: This provides a sense of the expedition’s pace and the distances covered over several days.
The expedition encountered rough ice that hampered progress: This highlights the challenging nature of Arctic travel and the need for adaptability and resourcefulness.
The expedition’s dogs were tired and required more food to stay in good condition: This illustrates the challenges of maintaining a dog team in the Arctic and the importance of animal care.
The expedition traveled a total of 12 miles on the 12th of April: This provides a sense of the distance covered during a single day of travel.
The ice on the lake was 4 feet 8 inches thick on the 12th of April: This demonstrates the thickness of the ice during the spring and the challenges of navigating frozen water.

Terms:

Cache: A hidden store of supplies, often used by explorers to store food or equipment for later retrieval.
Pemmican: A traditional Native American food made from dried meat, berries, and fat. It is a highly nutritious and energy-rich food, ideal for survival in the Arctic.
En cache: The process of placing supplies in a cache.
Kayak: A small, one-person boat used by the Inuit for hunting and transportation.
Sledge: A sled used for transportation in the Arctic, typically pulled by dogs.
Snow-blindness: Temporary blindness caused by overexposure to the sun’s reflection off of snow.
Musk ox: An Arctic mammal with a thick, shaggy coat. Musk oxen are an important source of food and materials for the Inuit.
Ptarmigan: A type of grouse found in the Arctic region. Ptarmigan are important for subsistence hunting and are adapted to survive harsh winter conditions.
Igloo: A traditional Inuit snow house.
Aurora Borealis: A natural light display in the sky, caused by charged particles from the sun interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere.

Examples:

The encounter with the Inuit at Repulse Bay: This encounter highlights the importance of building trust and understanding with the Inuit people and their crucial role in guiding and assisting explorers.
The storm that destroyed the expedition’s observatories: This highlights the destructive force of Arctic weather and the challenges of maintaining scientific equipment.
The discovery of the wooden sledge: This provides tangible evidence of previous expeditions in the region and the dangers and challenges they faced.
The incident where Rae narrowly avoided being gored by a deer: This showcases the unpredictable nature of wildlife in the Arctic and the importance of vigilance and caution.
The theft of the expedition’s thermometer: This highlights the challenges of navigating intercultural relationships and the need for resourcefulness and diplomacy.
The accident to Ouligbuck: This demonstrates the harsh reality of Arctic exploration and the dangers inherent in traveling over frozen ground.
The Inuit’s theory about the sun and moon: This provides valuable insight into Inuit mythology and cultural beliefs about the natural world.
The encounter with the Esquimaux who had been in contact with the Franklin expedition: This provides direct evidence of the Franklin expedition’s presence in the region.
The use of Halkett’s air boat: This highlights the innovation and ingenuity of Arctic explorers and the importance of utilizing new technologies.
The encounter with the Inuit who had been reduced to cannibalism: This illustrates the extreme conditions faced by some Inuit groups and the desperate measures they took to survive.

Conclusion:

John Rae’s 1846 & 1847 expedition to the Arctic Sea was a testament to the challenges and rewards of exploration. The text provides a valuable window into the harsh realities of Arctic travel, the ingenuity of indigenous knowledge and practices, and the critical importance of inter-cultural understanding. Rae’s journey contributed significantly to geographical knowledge, expanding our understanding of the Arctic coastline. The text also highlights the challenges of Arctic survival, demonstrating the dangers of the environment and the importance of planning, resource management, and resilience. It underscores the lasting impact of previous expeditions on the Arctic landscape and provides valuable insights into the culture and practices of the Inuit people.

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