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sion behind. At the time the hunt was proposed there was a great fall of snow upon the ground, and the track of the formidable white wolf, which had so long persecuted the fort, was observed on the outside of the stockade. The thermometer at the time was 39 below Zero, and the wolf had just abandoned the lake in despair of getting hold of any living creature with which to satisfy his ravenous appetite. The hunters set out with three dogs, and were well armed. Having followed the track of the wolf through the woods about two miles, they started him as he was devouring the bark of a tree. After a most toilsome and disastrous exertion for upwards of two hours, three of the half-breeds succeeded in destroying the wolf, which had been completely harassed by hunger and fatigue. The officers of the expedition and of the Company, who had not been in the habit of scouring the woods in snow shoes, presented the most miserable spectacle. In their efforts to get through the thickets their faces had been frightfully scratched, and their duffle coats and chin cloths -the latter being put on to keep their chins and cheeks from being frozen-were torn to pieces. Under these circumstances, it was found necessary to kindle a fire with all possible despatch, and even before that could be accomplished it was feared that the intense cold would more wofully disfigure some of the poor adventurers. The warmth of the blaze from the brambles and trees soon removed this gloomy apprehension, and the wolf was immediately skinned and drawn for the purpose of being roasted. The animal, however, was so old and weather-beaten, that not one of his hungry pursuers could put a tooth in the most delicate part of him. A report had for some years prevailed within a circuit of some thousands of miles, both amongst the natives and the British settlers, and the servants of the two companies, that an Indian conjuror, named Ka-ka-wa-rente, who resided far away amongst the most distant northern tribes, was reverenced as one of their deities by the surrounding people, and was actually capable of performing the greatest wonders, in consequence of his awful intercourse with supernatural agents. Mr. Williams, who had learned that this extraordinary person was within 500 miles of the fort, and that he had very recently foretold some remarkable calamities that soon occurred amongst the tribes, sent a messenger to him, requesting that he would as soon as possible appear at the fort. The conjuror gladly accepted the invitation, and reached the post at the latter end of January, accompanied by two mortal agents, named Wappisthaw and Tappotum. Upon his arrival, the half-breeds paid homage to him, and even several officers of the company placed implicit reliance in his power, so high was his character throughout the land, for an intercourse with the world of spirits. Wagers were laid upon the effect of his magic, and the officers of the expedition were surprised at the readiness with which their ridicule was answered, by the proposal of considerable bets. In reply to a question put to Ka-ka-wa-rente, as to what he was able to do, he said "Every thing. He could bring back a wife to a husband, or separate man and wife for ever. He could, in fact, reconcile things the most contradictory in their nature. It was in vain that attempts were made to weaken his power with his agents above or below, and as absurd to try to imprison his body as his mind." Mr. Williams said he should be content with an experiment upon Ka-ka-wa-rente's body, and the next evening was fixed for the trial. Ka-ka-wa-rente, not thinking it respectful to the invisible powers with which he communicated to

request their assistance within the walls of those who doubted their infallibility, pitched his leathern tent in the woods, within half a mile of the fort, and called upon the Governor to put him to the test. Wappisthaw and Tappotum stood at the door of the tent, the former blowing a whistle, the latter beating a drum, when the principal inhabitants of the fort sallied out with lighted torches in their hands. The conjuror was rather struck with the preparations at first, but he soon laughed away the fears of some of his admirers, who had observed that he was not insensible to the cold. The Governor then produced a quantity of stout new ropes, and having served in the navy for several years, and placing some reliance in his own strength, undertook to imprison the conjuror in the tent. With this view, having stripped Ka-ka-wa-rente naked, he tied his arms and legs together, and put so many seamen's knots upon the ropes, that the efforts to get out of such thraldom could not but be attended with excessive pain to any one not under the immediate care of the gods. The conjuror was then placed on his back within the tent, at the top of which was a small hole for the admission of the particular genius who was to release him. In a few moments a great bustle was heard within the tent: the whistle and drum played up, as it were, with the very spirit of inspiration; still the Governor and the officers of the expedition had such reliance upon the seaman's twist, that while others looked to the top of the tent in the expectation of seeing the ropes fly out of it, they kept their eyes upon Wappisthaw and Tappotum, in order that the magician might be under no obligation to human agency. A quarter of an hour was occupied in this manner, when a loud cry was heard from the tent, and immediately after Ka-ka-warente was pulled out in a state of insensibility, pinioned as before, and frozen almost to death, notwithstanding his laborious efforts to anticipate the work of his invisible friend. The publication of this circumstance had the effect of removing from the minds of the thousands of Indians who had placed such confidence in the power of the conjuror, all respect for his former exertions. He slunk back to his own people, but was no longer received as a superior. A few months afterwards, he was seen hunting with his companions, whose hardships he was compelled to share from the moment he was proved to be a liar. It was a wish expressed with a great deal of fervency by Mr. Franklin, upon observing the exceeding docility of the Indians, and their contempt of all attempts at imposture, that the religious societies of England would send out amongst them some of those excellent men who are so easily procured to visit other countries, for the purpose of giving religious instruction, where it would be most gratefully received; a wish in which we most cordially join. The hardy adventurers were to commence during June their passage down Hearn's River; and we are happy to learn that accounts have reached the Admiralty of their safe return to the coast where they disembarked, and that Capt. Franklin, with Dr. Richardson and the two midshipmen that accompanied the party, were in perfect health. The discoveries which they have made are, we understand, highly gratifying and important.

North-West Expedition.-The following letter has lately been received by a gentleman of Liverpool from his brother, an officer engaged on the voyage of discovery to the Arctic Regions. The intelligence which it conveys is the first that has been received from the expedition since the vessels entered the ice. "Hudson's Straits, 16th July, 1821.-The day after the transport left us we entered these Straits, which we found choked

with ice; we entered them nevertheless, and at first made considerable progress, but, as we expected, were at length beset, or, in other words the Hoes of ice having coalesced on all sides, we found ourselves firmly impacted in the midst of it. Ever since, we have been moving to and fro with it, at the rate of five miles an hour, according to the flux or reflux of the tide. Sometimes the ice dividing, would allow us to push on a few miles, and again uniting, incarcerate us for days. By this mode of progressing, we have contrived to advance about seventy miles in the Straits. When I wrote by the transport, I think I expressed an opinion, that we had left England much too early. This has been verified, not only by the difficulties we have met with, but also by the circumstance of the Hudson's Bay traders having overtaken us. These vessels did not leave the Thames until the end of May. They go on to the company's settlements, and return immediately. Although the conveyance is not very direct, I cannot help availing myself of the chance, to let you know that all is well, and that we are now on the point of making a more rapid progress. The ice, by dint of rain, attended with a tolerably warm sun, has been dissolving daily, and we have this day bored through upwards of ten miles of it. We expect, daily, to have some Esquimaux visitors. I regret that these vessels have joined us so soon, for I should have been glad to have had something novel to communicate. I expect this letter will find its way to you about November; and when you see it, you will at once conclude, that the expedition has returned. However glad I might be to see you again, I cannot help wishing that it may be, at least, two winters before I can have that gratification."

The New Antarctic Land.-Respecting this country, the discovery of which we announced some time ago, the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal has obtained some further interesting accounts. They occur in a notice of a second voyage, under E. Barnfield, master of the Andromache, who was despatched in the brig which originally visited New Shetland, (the William) in order to ascertain the truth of the statements brought by Mr. Smith and his crew. The writer says, "We sailed from Valparaiso on the 20th of December 1819, but did not arrive on cruizing ground till the 16th of January 1820, having been almost constantly harassed with baffling winds and calms till we arrived in a high southern latitude. On that day, however, we had the good fortune to discover the land to the south-eastward, extending on both bows as far as the eye could reach. At a distance, its limits could scarcely be distinguished from the light white clouds which floated on the tops of the mountains. Upon a nearer approach, however, every object became distinct. The whole line of coast appeared high, bold, and rugged; rising abruptly from the sea in perpendicular snowy cliffs, except here and there where the naked face of a barren black rock showed itself amongst them. In the interior, the land, or rather the snow, sloped. gradually and gently upwards into high hills, which appeared to be situated some miles from the sea. No attempt was made to land here, as the weather became rather threatening, and a dense fog came on, which soon shut every thing from our view at more than a hundred yards distance. A boat had been sent away in the mean time to try for anchorage; but they found the coast completely surrounded by dangerous sunken rocks, and the bottom so foul, and the water so deep, that it was not thought prudent to go nearer the shore in the brig, especially as it was exposed to almost every wind.-The boat brought off some seals and penguins, which had been shot among the rocks; but the crew reported them to be the only animated objects they had discovered. The latitude of this part of the coast was found to be 62° 26' S. and its longitude to be 60° 54′ W. Three days after this,

* Within a few minutes of the first discovery.—Ev.

we discovered and anchored in an extensive bay, about two degrees farther to the eastward, where we were enabled to land, and examine the country. Words can scarcely be found to describe its barrenness and sterility. Only. one small spot of land was discovered on which a landing could be effected upon the main, every other part of the bay being bounded by the same inaccessible cliffs which we had met with before. We landed on a shingle beach, on which there was a heavy surf beating, and from which a small stream of fresh water ran into the sea. Nothing was to be seen but the rugged surface of barren rocks, upon which myriads of sea-fowls had laid their eggs, which they were then hatching. These birds were so little accustomed to the sight of any other animal, that, so far from being intimidated by our approach, they even disputed our landing, and we were obliged forcibly to open a passage for ourselves through them. They consisted principally of four species of the penguin; with albatrosses, gulls, pintadoes, shags, seaswallows, and a bird about the size and shape of the common pigeon, and of a milk-white plumage, the only species we met with that was not webfooted. We also fell in with a number of the animals described in Lord Anson's voyage as the sea-lion, and said by him to be so plentiful at Juan Fernandez, many of which we killed. Seals were also pretty numerous; but though we walked some distance into the country, we could observe no trace either of inhabitants, or of any terrestrial animal. It would be im possible, indeed, for any but beasts of prey to subsist here, as we met with no sort of vegetation, except here and there small patches of stunted grass growing upon the surface of the thick coat of dung which the sea-fowls left. in the crevices of the rocks, and a species of moss, which occasionally we met with adhering to the rocks themselves. In short, we traced the land nine or ten degrees east and west, and about three degrees north and south, and found its general appearance always the same, high, mountainous, barren, and universally covered with snow, except where the rugged summits of a black rock appeared through it, resembling a small island in the midst of the ocean; but from the lateness of the season, and the almost constant fogs in which we were enveloped, we could not ascertain whether it formed part of a continent, or was only a group of islands. If it is insular, there must be some of an immense extent, as we found a gulf nearly 150 miles in depth, out of which we had some difficulty in finding our way back again. The discovery of this land must be of great interest in a geographical point of view, and its importance to the commercial interests of our country, must be evident from the very great numbers of whales with which we were daily surrounded; and the multitudes of the finest fur-seals and sea-lions which we met both at sea and on every point of the coast, or adjacent rocky islands, on which we were able to land. The fur of the former is the finest and longest I have ever seen; and from their having now become scarce in every other part of these seas, and the great demand for them both in Europe and India, they will, I have no doubt, become, as soon as the discovery is made public, a favourite speculation amongst our merchants.-The oil procured from the sea-lion, is, I am told, nearly equal in value to that of the spermaceti whale; and the great number of whales we saw every where near the land must also be an important thing to our merchants, as they have lately been said to be very scarce to the northward. We left the coast on the 21st of March, and arrived at this place on the 14th of April, having touched at Juan Fernandez for refreshment."—It is a singular coincidence, that the biography of Capt. Cook closes (by way of summary) with the declaration, that the illustrious navigator had decided two great problems-namely, that there was no antarctic land, and no passage into the arctic polar sea. These unlucky assertions are, by a strange chance, both negatived in the same year.

New Expedition to Africa.-His Majesty expressed his desire, a short time since, that an expedition should be formed to explore certain parts of Africa, which border upon Egypt. The idea was suggested in consequence of the successful researches of M. Belzoni in the latter country; but the object of the present expedition is of a different character from the pursuits of that gentleman, inasmuch as it is the discovery, not of the ponderous monuments of Egyptian labour, but of the remains of Greek and Roman edifices, which it is conjectured are scattered in different parts of Libya-a country which those celebrated nations visited, and in which they established colonies at several different periods, but which it is supposed no Europeans have since explored. The gentleman, who has been chosen by government, with the approbation of his Majesty, to superintend this expedition, is Mr. Beechey, many years secretary to Mr. Salt, the English consul to Egypt, and the constant companion of M. Belzoni, in his late indefatigable researches. The lords of the Admiralty have also afforded every assistance in their power to advance the object of this expedition, by fitting out a small vessel with a complement of men, and entrusting the command to one of the lieutenants who were engaged under captain Parry in the last northern expedition, and the same officer, from whose drawings were executed the engravings that embellish the account of that voyage of which the public are in possession. The vessel is intended to sail round the coast, and to wait upon the expedition, which will only proceed so far in the interior as will be consistent with its safety, or allow an easy return to the coast. The expedition will start from Tripoli, to the Bey of which a communication has been despatched from this government to request assistance, which will, no doubt, be afforded, as it has formerly been by that power upon similar occasions. Libya, the country about to be explored by our adventurous countrymen, is that which in ancient times contained the two countries of Cyrenaica and Marmaraca. The former was called Pentapolis, from the five great cities which it contained; one of which was Berenice, or Hesperis, now Bernice, the spot where the celebrated gardens of the Hesperides are generally supposed to have existed. Not far distant was Barce or Baca, and Ptolemais, now Tolomata. To the east of the extreme northern point of the coast, called Thycus Promontorium, now Cape Rasat, was Apollonia, now Marza Susa, or Sosush, formerly the port of Cyrene, that city being situated a little inland; it was founded by Battus, who led thither a Lacedæmonian colony from Thera, one of the Cyclades; and the kingdom was afterwards bequeathed to the Romans by the last of the Ptolemies, surnamed Apion, and was formed by that nation into a province with Crete. The expedition will explore the vestiges of it, which are supposed still to remain under the name of Curin: to the east of this stood the fifth city of ancient Cyrenaica, called Darnis, now Derne. South of Marmarica, which our countrymen will visit, and in the midst of the sands of the Libyan Desert, was a small and beautiful spot, refreshed by streams, and luxuriant with verdure, in which stood the temple, so celebrated in antiquity, of Jupiter Hammon, said to have been founded by Bacchus, in gratitude to his father Jupiter, who appeared to him, when perishing with thirst, in the form of a ram, and showed him a fountain. Here was the Fons Solis, whose waters were cold at noon and hot at night. Here also stood the celebrated ancient oracle, so difficult of access through the Libyan Deserts, and which was consulted by Alexander the Great, after a memorable and a dangerous journey, the token of which, transmitted to posterity, is the ram's horn upon the head of that conqueror on numerous medals. The expedition will, in all probability, be engaged three or four years.--Dr. Woodney, Lieut. Clapperton, of the Royal Navy, and Licut. Denman, of the army, also

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