The Unexploited West / A Compilation of all of the authentic information available at the present time as to the Natural Resources of the Unexploited Regions of Northern Canada

by Ernest J. Chambers

Many of the principal witnesses examined before the British parliamentary committee of 1749 referred to the prospective mineral wealth of the country northwest of Hudson bay. Mr. Joseph Robson, at whose instance largely the investigation was held, testified that he had seen copper worn by the Indians about their necks and arms. He had also seen about a pound and a half of copper ore, which he understood from the Indians they had brought from a great distance.

Another witness, Alexander Browne, who had been six years in the company’s service at Hudson bay as surgeon, informed the Committee that he had seen both copper and copper ore at Prince of Wales’ Fort on Churchill river, which the northern Indians informed him they brought from an isthmus of land which lies by a lake at the farthest extent of their country. It was hard to ascertain the distance from the accounts of the Indians, but he judged it to be about three or four hundred miles. He never heard the Indians say whether there was a passage to this place from Hudson bay by water, but they informed him their river ran by it. They brought down the copper for ornaments, and the ore at the request of Governor Norton. Witness had seen about four or five pounds of it, both before it was smelted, and after, and he

Took it to be A Rich Ore,

but did not understand metals. He had heard of lead ore at Hudson bay, but never saw any. He never saw the Indians smelt the copper, but they informed him that the earth was washed from the ore by showers, and that they smelted it on a fire until it ran, and then beat it, it being very malleable. Witness never heard of a copper mine on the large arm of the sea, but the ore was brought down by canoes to the open sea, and the rivulet which washed the said copper is not known to have any communication with Hudson bay, the mine being about fifteen miles from the open sea, by the accounts of the Indians. He believed that the Indians came a little to the northward of Whale cove, “which bears a point or two to the west of the north from Churchill.” If the Indians were encouraged they would bring great quantities of ore, as well as smelted copper to Whale cove, but if persons were sent up to the mine they would labour under a difficulty for want of fuel, the country producing no wood, and what the Indians smelt, they do in small quantities with moss.

Doctor Thompson, another of the company’s surgeons, testified that he had heard the natives talk of a sea to the westward, which, by their accounts, is not far distant, and of a copper mine, which lay on the side of a “Streight”, which takes them five days in crossing. They described the water of this “Streight” to be very deep, and they could not reach the bottom with two deerskins cut into thongs. If a sloop could be brought alongside this copper mine, they say they could fill it, in a little time, and by their account, this “Streight” has a communication both with the bay and the south sea.

Doctor Thompson further informed the Committee, “that he went with Captain Middleton on the discovery of the North-West-Passage, and likewise with the last adventurers.”

Christopher Bannister, who had been armourer and gunsmith to the Hudson’s Bay Company, and had resided in the bay about twenty-two years, informed the Committee that he had seen lead ore at Moose river, which came from the northward, but he could not say whence. He had seen a good quantity of it, and some of it was tried by Mr. Longdon’s apprentice, and it seemed extraordinary good lead, the boy

Making A Pair of Buckles of It.

The witness could not say what proportion the lead bore to the ore. The boy put in a piece of ore as big as a man’s fist, and got lead enough to make a pair of large buckles. The witness was sure nothing was put in but the ore, none being present but himself, and the boy who brought it down. That was about three years previous to the investigation and witness never saw any lead ore at any other time. He had seen copper frequently brought down by the northern Indians, a piece of which he produced before the committee. He said he had seen great quantities of it there, and was informed by a young man, who is now at Hudson bay that the Indians told him that it was brought from a mine, in search of which the young man would gladly have gone.”

Hearne at the Copper Deposits.