The great probability of a North West Passage / deduced from observations on the letter of Admiral de Fonte

by Unknown

That de Fonte should not pass up the North-east Part of the South Sea, but go through Land, must have been, that the North-east Part of the South Sea was represented as a Gulph, not a Streight, from some Observations made prior to that Expedition, as to which the Observers might be deceived, by its taking a Southerly Course through some Inlet or Opening obscured by Islands, or the Entrance narrow, that they concluded it only to be some small Branch which soon terminated; having, at the same Time, a large open Channel before them, which they finding afterwards surrounded with Land, concluded there was no Communication with any other Waters, but that they had seen the Extremity of these Waters to Eastward. That these Waters took a Course through that desert mountainous Country, until they joined with the Waters of the Streights that de Fuca came up, the People of Conosset might not be able to give a just Account of, as they lived so far to Northward and Eastward. Though they, as the Natives of Conibasset also came occasionally into the North-east Part of the South Sea; the one mostly frequented to Northward and Eastward, the other to Northward and Westward, as is apparent from de Fonte's Account; where they had level and fruitful Tracts, as they produced so much Maiz; a hunting Country, as there were three Sorts of Deer; also Fish in their Waters. Whereas the Country on the opposite Shore of the North-east Part of the South Sea, as is apparent from being the Resort of the Eskemaux, would be rugged, rocky, and remarkably barren, with little Intermixtures of level and fruitful Spots. Therefore the People of Conosset, or Conibasset, would have no Inducements to go into those Parts. May be supposed the opposite Coast was the Limits of their Enemy's Country, with whom if they went to War, and knew that the Waters of the North-east Part of the South Sea did communicate to Southward with other Waters; yet it cannot be imagined that they went up those Waters so far in their Enemy's Country of so wild a Disposition, where they were always in Danger of being surprized, as to know whether those Waters joined with the Sea in which Shapley was met. Might also be jealous if the Jesuits, or Parmentiers, or others who came there, were very particular in their Enquiries, that they intended to go and reside amongst their Enemies, which, as the Nature of Indians is, would cause them to be on the Reserve, and slack in their Informations, as to those Parts.

That those Persons who were in those Parts before this Expedition of de Fonte, got no Information of this Streight, or of the Waters, as to the Course of them to Southward, there must be a considerable main Land to Southward of Lake Belle and Lake de Fonte, as is expressed in the Map, and as to the Sea to Eastward, that Part of it which was to Southward of Ronquillo, no more would be apprehended of it, being unacquainted as to the Streight, than that it was a Part of that Sea contiguous to Hudson's Bay; and it not being known at that Time but the Tides came from the Eastward, would have no Reason to infer, from the Sea running to Southward, that it communicated with a Streight there.

To take away the Improbability of what is here advanced, we should reflect what Assurances former Discoverers gave, that had but the Season permitted to proceed, they should certainly have made a Passage; though when an Attempt was again made they found their Mistake; and from Observations then made, they saw good Reason to have a different Opinion as to the Nature of the Passage from what they had before, and very reasonable, as their Searches were made in Parts entirely unknown; and as to the Appearance of the Land, the Course of the Waters, and the Set of the Tides, the most judicious might be deceived.

The Spanish Nation had not been able to make out a Passage by their various Attempts, agreeable to the Accounts of private Persons, which probably might give an Opportunity for the Representations of the Jesuits to be attended to, who would urge every Argument in Behalf of their Discovery, and endeavour to invalidate the former Accounts as to a Passage; which by that Time, from the ill Success as to discovering a Passage, might not be at that Time so much thought of; and as Difference in Time produces a Change in Opinions, whatever makes for the reigning Opinion is adopted, as every Thing that is contradictory is depreciated. The Arguments for the Opinion which prevailed before for a navigable Passage might be treated as fallacious and insignificant, and the Instructions for the Expedition of de Fonte might be drawn agreeable to the Jesuits Plan, whom it is evident knew nothing of a Streight, but considered the Land of America as one continued Continent to Latitude 66. And whatever Weight this Conjecture may have, it is apparent from the Consideration of de Fonte's Letter, that the Instructions were drawn from the Information of some who had been before in those Parts: And by whom can it be supposed more properly that the Court received the Information which they had than from the Jesuits, whose Understanding and Character would admit them to a free Converse with the Minister on a less Occasion than they would now have, to give an Account of those Parts they had been in.

The Court of Spain does not seem, from the Proceedings, to be of the same Opinion with the Jesuits, or de Fonte after his return. As the Governor of Cinoloa is immediately ordered to take a Survey of the Coasts and Harbours of California. And the next Year Admiral Cassanate is sent from Old Spain; and it is probable the Court was not of the Opinion of the Jesuits when they gave this Information, but formed the Instructions for de Fonte agreeable thereto. As the most expedient Method, at that Time, for intercepting the People from Boston, was to go the Way they gave an Account of with the Boats through Land, as the Ships might meet with Difficulties and Delays in passing up the Streights, also ran great Hazard; the Boston Ship might pass them unperceived. Whereas, on the Plan which was pursued, if they heard by the Natives that the Boston Ship had passed, and taken her Course further to Southward or Westward, de Fonte would have repaired aboard his Ship, proceeded down Los Reyes, and with the Diligence which he would have made Use of, fell in with the Boston Ship either in such North-east Part of the South Sea, or on the Coast of California, leaving Orders for Barnardo how to act in this Respect on his return. From which Conduct, and the Look-out that was kept on the Coast of Mexico and Peru, it would have been also impossible for the Boston People, unacquainted with these Parts, and not expecting such a Diligence was used to intercept them, to have made a successful Voyage.

That there is a Sea to the Westward of Hudson's Bay is reported by the Indians, and is represented to have Ice in it like Hudson's Bay.

Governor Dobbs, in his Account of the Countries adjoining to Hudson's Bay (P. 19.) mentions from Joseph le France, that their Savages reported that in the Bottom of the Northern Bay there is a Streight, they can easily discover Land on the other Side: They had never gone to the End of that Streight. They say there is Ice there all the Year, which is drove by the Wind, sometimes one Way sometimes another.

The Indians, who are called Northern Indians, having their Habitations to North-west of Churchill, mention a Sea to the Westward of them, and which is from Churchill Factory in Hudson's Bay twenty-five Days Journey, not a direct Course, but from the round they are obliged to take. They speak of the Eskemaux Indians to Eastward of them, but never give an Account of any other Nations to Northward or Westward of them. Mr. Scroggs, who was sent out by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1722, had two Northern Indians, whom he carried with him, when he was in about Lat. 62. knew the Country very well, and had a great Desire to go home, saying they were but two or three Days Journey from their Family. And the Northern Indians who were with Captain Middleton, were desirous of his going near the Shore, between Lat. 62 Deg. and 64. In Lat. 63° and 14´, Captain Middleton put two of the Indians ashore, who were desirous of returning to their own Country. And the Author saw an Indian, whose Daughter had married a Northern Indian and been home with her, direct his own Son to sketch out on a Board with a burnt Stick, the Coast of that Sea, which his Son did, and the Father afterwards took and corrected it where he said the Son had mistook.

Governor Dobbs, in the Account mentioned P. 45, mentions, 'that Joseph le France was acquainted with an Indian, who lived at some Distance from Nelson River in Hudson's Bay, who, about 15 Years before that Time, went to War against a Nation living Northward on the Western Ocean of America. When they went they carried their Families with them, and hunted and fished from Place to Place for two Winters and one Summer, having left their Country in Autumn, and in April following came to the Sea Side, on the Western Coast, where they immediately made their Canoes. At some little Distance they saw an Island, which was about a League and a Half long when the Tide was out, or Water fell, they had no Water betwixt them and the Island, but when it rose it covered all the Passage betwixt them and the Island, as high up as the Woods upon the Shore. There they left their Wives and Children, and old Men, to conduct them home and provide them with Provisions, by hunting and shooting for them on the Road; and he, with thirty Warriors, went in Quest of their Enemies the Tete Plat. After they parted with their Families they came to a Streight, which they passed in their Canoes. The Sea Coast lay almost East and West; for he said the Sun rose upon his Right Hand, and at Noon it was almost behind him as he passed the Streight, and always set in the Sea. After passing the Streight they coasted along the Shore three Months, going into the Country or Woods as they went along to hunt for Provisions. He said they saw a great many large black Fish spouting up Water in the Sea. After they had coasted for near three Months, they saw the Footsteps of some Men on the Sand; then judged they were near their Enemies, quitted their Canoes, went five Days through the Woods to the Banks of a River, found their Enemy's Town, made an Attack, the Enemy rallied and put them to flight.' Then proceeds, 'upon which they fled to the Woods, and from thence made their Escape to their Canoes before their Enemies overtook them, and after a great deal of Fatigue got to the Streight; and, after getting over, they all died one after the other, except this old Man, of Fatigue and Famine, leaving him alone to travel to his own Country, which took him up about a Year's Time.' When he reached the River Sakie he met his Friends again, who relieved him.

The Indians that this antient Indian went to War against, (and this Indian was living at York Fort in Hudson's Bay in 1746) are mentioned to be the Tete Plat, or Plascotez de Chicus. The Part which they inhabit is variously laid down by the Geographers; by some in Lat. 67, Long. 265 East from Ferro, which is the extremest Longitude that their Country is laid down in. Mons. de Lisle and others place them in Lat. 63, and Long. 280 East from Ferro, so their true Situation is uncertain. Yet it is apparent that they do not live near to or on the Coast of the South Sea, or Western Ocean. For what Joseph le France in this Account, and so of all Indians, meant by the Word Sea is any Mass or Collection of Salt Waters which have a Tide. P. 38, in the same Work, giving an Account of the Indians passing down to York Fort. 'The River de Terre Rouge, and from that Place they descend gradually to the Sea.' By which Joseph le France means Hudson's Bay. Governor Dobbs mentioning the Western Ocean of America is a Mistake, which he was led into as having a Consistency with the System which he had adopted. These Warriors left their own Country in Autumn, are said to have lived near Port Nelson or York Fort, and were at the Sea Side in April. Their not being sooner is not to be attributed to the Length of the Journey but to the Season of the Year. The old Indian was a Year returning to his own Country; but he was fatigued and almost famished, so labouring under a great Debility, and had his Food to seek in whatever Manner he could procure it. The Winter also came on soon after his return from the Enemy. They were on the Western Side of the Land, which separates Hudson's Bay from that Sea, where they saw so great a Tide. Afterwards passed a Streight, which Streight lay North and South. The Sea they came from and the Sea they passed into after such Streight, laid East and West. They continually kept the Western Shore, as that was the Side on which their Enemy lived; and though they were so long as three Months in their Passage, they were obliged to go every Day ashore to hunt, being thirty in Company, required a pretty considerable Subsistance. Their Canoes can bear no Serge or Wave when the Wind blows, therefore are obliged to keep close to the Shore, and must go to the Bottom of each Bay.