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Tn our last account of the progress of the Land ‘Arctic expedition under Lieutenant, now Captain Franklin, ‘we mentioned that they reached their wine ering ground in the beginning of October, at ‘Cumber land Fort, from whence they were to set out in the proper season, upon the more important,and hazards ous demainder of their journey . Mr. Williams, the principal, agent of the Hudson's Bay Company, and dignified with the title of Governor, being resolved to prepare his visitors for some of the scenes which were to become part of their future occupation, proposed to Mr. Franklin and Mr. Richardson a wolf-hunt in the beginning of January. Those gentlemen having prac ised the necessary accomplishment of running with snow-shoes, were qualified to join in the hunt, and the wolf, against whom the attack was meditated, had already roused the anger of the inhabitants of the’ fort, by killing several of their dogs. Indeed, upon one occasion the ferocious animal had attacked two of the company’s servants as they were crossing Cumberland Lake with a quantity of fish, and obliged them, after having torn one of them in a desperate manner, to leave the provision 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 long so, persecuted the fort, was observed on the outside of the suoccade. The thermometer at the time was 39 below Zero, and the wolf had just abandon ed the lake in dispair of getting hold of any living crea ture, 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 totally 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 immedi ately skinned and drawn for the purpose of being roast ed. 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 cir cuit of some thousands of miles, both amongst the na tives and the British settlers, and the servants of ‘the five companies, that an Indian conjuror, named Kaka-wa-rente, who resided ‘far away amongst the most distant, northern tribes, was reverenced as one of their denies by the surrounding people, and was actually capable of performing the greatest wonders. Mm: consequence of his awful intercourse with super natural 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 re markable 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 con juror gladly accepted the invitation, and reached the post at the latter end of January, accompanied by two mortal agents, named Vappisthaw and Tappotuas. Upon his arrival, the half breeds paid homage to him, and even several offcers 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. Wavers were laid upon the effect of his magic, and the officers of the expedition were surprised at the readiness with which their ridicule was ansured, 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 Everything. We 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 so vain that attempts were made to weaken his power with agents above or below, and as‘absurd to try to imprise his body a 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 in visible powers with which he communicated to re quest their assistance within the walls of those who doubted their infallibility, pitched his leathery tent in the woods, within half a mile of the fort, and called upon the Governor to put him to the test. Wauppis thaw and T'appotum 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 aye for several years, took to imprison the conjuror in ‘the tett; this viem, have fig stripped Ka-ka:wa-renien, tried, he and placing some reliance in his own strength, ‘unders ie ligarms' and teysi together, and put so’ mabyiseanigin'y kudts upon the ropes, thar this efforts to vet-dat-df- such thraldom could’ not but be atterded, with’ excessive pain, to any one not under the immediate care by “the gods. The conjurer was them 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 compliment to human agency. A quarter of an hour was’ occupied in this manner, when a loud cry was heard from the tent, and’ immrediatel after Ka-ka-wa-reaté was“pulted‘out in a ‘state of pre sensibility, pinioned as ‘ before,and frozen, almost to death, notwithstanding his labourious efforts,to antici pate’ 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 ows ‘people, but: wad: ne longer received as a superior.. A few months afterwards, ‘he was seen hunting with his companions, ‘whose’ hard ships he was compelled to share ‘from the ‘moment he was proved to be a viiar. It was a wish expresse d with a great deal of fervency by Mr. Franklin, upon observing the exceeding docility of the Indians, and their contempt of all‘attempts at simposture, 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.
Newspaper Details
Philanthropic Gazette
London, Middlesex, GB
Wed, Dec 19, 1821
Page 1
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CA 14 Jul 2026
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