Narrative of the Second Arctic Expedition Made by Charles F. Hall
His Voyage to Repulse Bay, Sledge Journeys to the Straits of Fury and Hecla and to King William's Land, and Residence among the Eskimos during the Years 1864–69
Cambridge Library Collection - Polar Exploration Series

The American explorer Charles Francis Hall (1821?71) made two voyages to the Arctic to determine the fate of Sir John Franklin's lost expedition. While there, he lived with Inuit, learning their language and adopting their way of life. Edited after his death and published in 1879, this account of his second expedition, from 1864 to 1869, brings the conditions he endured vividly to life. Two punishing sledge journeys to King William Island revealed evidence of Franklin's encampment there, but also the stark fact that rumours of survivors were unfounded. The work, which contains a number of fine engravings and maps, also includes appendices presenting Hall's detailed scientific observations and notes of his conversations with the Inuit, which disclosed evidence of cannibalism among Franklin's crew. Based on his earlier expedition, Hall's Life with the Esquimaux (1864) is also reissued in this series.

Official letters; Preliminary chapter; 1. Preparatory work for the expedition; 2. Preparations for the voyage; 3. From St John's, Newfoundland, to winter quarters on the Welcome; 4. Intercourse with the Innuits, their feasts and hunts; 5. Winter life and journey to the Wager; 6. From the Wager to Fort Hope; 7. A second winter life; 8. First advance towards King William's Land; 9. Journeys around Repulse Bay; 10. Sledge journey to Ig-Loo-Lik for dogs; 11. Journey to Cape Weynton; 12. Journey to the Strait of Fury and Hecla and to Lyon's Inlet, and fourth winter; 13. Final journey to King William's Land and return to the United States; 14. Additional notes; Appendixes; Index.