Arctic Searching Expedition
A Journal of a Boat-Voyage through Rupert's Land and the Arctic Sea, in Search of the Discovery Ships under Command of Sir John Franklin

Originally published in 1851, this two-volume work charts the author's expedition in search of the Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin.

John Richardson (Author)

9781108057691, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 28 March 2013

442 pages, 1 colour illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.5 cm, 0.56 kg

The surgeon, naturalist and Arctic explorer Sir John Richardson (1787–1865) was a lifelong friend to his former commander Sir John Franklin, with whom he had twice travelled to seek the North-West Passage. Following two years of silence from Franklin after he embarked on his 1845 expedition to the Arctic, Richardson set out on his own voyage in the hope of finding his comrade. Originally published in 1851, this two-volume work charts the journey which would inevitably fail in its ambition: Franklin, unknown to Richardson, had already died in June 1847. Volume 2 begins with detailed descriptions of the aboriginal Chipewyan and Cree peoples. A thorough appendix comprises observations on physical geography, climatology and the geographical distribution of plants, and includes vocabularies for the dialects encountered during the mission. The text ends, Richardson having returned, with the hope that future expeditions may yet trace 'so many gallant victims to science'.

13. Of the 'Tinnè or Chepewyans
14. Eythinyuwuk, or Crees and Chippeways
15. Occurrences in winter
16. Mr Rae's expedition in the summer of 1849
Appendix: 1. Physical geography
2. Climatology
3. On the geographical distribution of plants north of the 49th parallel of latitude
4. List of insects
5. Vocabularies
Explanation of plates
Postscript.

Subject Areas: Historical geography [HBTP]