Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Big Bear Lake

What a great time.This brief period of severe cold,--which usually occurs on some days in May, even in some temperate latitudes--was sufficient to freeze the deep snow and make the ground easier to travel again.Jasper Hobson was on the road again, and the team sped along after him. The direction of the route changes slightly.Instead of heading straight north, the squad moved westward, so to speak, along the arc of the Arctic Circle.The lieutenant wanted to go to Fort Confield, built on the shore of Big Bear Lake. The severe cold these days was conducive to carrying out his plan; he walked quickly; business station.

Fort Confidence and Fort Goodhope, built on the banks of the Mackenzie River, were the two northernmost trading stations under the jurisdiction of the Hudson's Bay Company.Fort Confield was built on the northernmost edge of Big Bear Lake. This is an extremely important place. The lake freezes in winter and is navigable in summer. Therefore, it maintains communication with Fort Franklin, the southernmost.These trading posts, especially Fort Confields, developed and operated on the shores and waters of Big Bear Lake, not to mention their daily trade with these high latitude Indian hunters.This lake is like a true Mediterranean, its length and breadth encompassing several latitudes.The shape of the lake is very irregular, the central part is strangled by two capes, and the north side expands, like a big triangular horn.The general shape is almost that of a large ruminant hide with its hide spread out and without a head.

Fort Confidant was built exactly on the rear cusp, less than 200 miles from Coronation Bay, one of the many winding deltas on the north coast of America.The fort was built beyond the Arctic Circle, but three degrees short of the 70th parallel, and the Hudson's Bay Company insisted on building a new trading station beyond that line. Generally speaking, Fort Confidance has the same layout as other commercial stations in the south.It consists of an officer's house, several soldiers' houses and fur warehouses.All are wooden houses, surrounded by fence walls.At this time, the captain in charge was not there, and he went to the east with a group of Indians and soldiers to find more prey.Things weren't great last quarter.Lack of precious furs.To compensate, though, otter hides are still a boon, thanks to the proximity to the lake.However, the stock just happened to be delivered to the central trading station in the south, so the warehouse in Confidansberg is now empty.

In the absence of the captain, a sergeant came out to meet Jasper Hobson on behalf of the fort.The sergeant happened to be Sergeant Long's brother-in-law, and his name was Felden.He was wholeheartedly willing to serve the lieutenant, and the lieutenant decided to spend two or three days at Fort Confields, wanting to rest his companions.As a small group was out, the room was adequate.Both man and dog lived comfortably.The prettiest main quarters were naturally reserved for Mrs Pauline Barnett, who was most indebted to Sergeant Feldon for his attentive care. Jasper Hobson's first concern was to find out from Feldon whether some tribe of northern Indians was scavenging along the shores of Big Bear Lake.

"Yes, Lieutenant," the sergeant replied. "We were recently informed that a camp of the Hare Indians had been found on the northern shore of the lake." "How far from the fort?" asked Jasper Hobson. "About thirty miles," replied Sergeant Feldon, "do you wish to make contact with the natives?" "Yes," said Jasper Hobson, "these Indians can give me some useful information about the place near Bathurst Point which borders the Arctic Ocean. If the location is suitable, I intend to Build a new business station there." "Then, Lieutenant," replied Felton, "there's nothing easier than going to the Hare Tribe camp."

"From the lake?" "No, take the waterway on the lake. It is navigable at present, and the wind is favorable. We will give you a small boat, and send a sailor to drive the boat. In a few hours, you will reach the Indian camp." "Well, Sergeant," said Jasper Hobson, "I accept your suggestion, then, tomorrow morning, if you wish..." "Any moment you think fit, Lieutenant," replied Sergeant Feldon. The time for departure was fixed for the next morning.When Lady Polina Barnett learned of the plan, she asked Jasper Hobson to allow her to go with her--a request, it was known, which was granted at once.

But, to kill the rest of the day.Mrs Polina Barnett, Jasper Hobson, two or three soldiers, March, Mrs Mac Knapp, and Mrs Jolliffe were taken by Felden to the shore of the adjacent lake to see Look.There is no shortage of greenery on the shores of the lake, and resinous trees such as Scotch pine dot the snow-free hills.These trees are 40 meters high and provide the firewood that the fortress residents need throughout the winter.The thick trunks of the trees, with their soft branches, are a characteristic light gray.The dense forest extends to the lake, neatly arranged, tall and straight, and the trees are of the same height, but it makes the scenery look monotonous. The bushes are covered with pale whitish grass, which exudes the fragrant smell of thyme.Sergeant Feldon told the guests that this very fragrant grass is called "frankincense herb", and when it is thrown on the flaming coals, it will emit a fragrant smell.

The walker leaves the fort and walks a few hundred paces to a small natural harbor, wedged between high granite cliffs and protected from the crashing waves of the sea.It was here that the fleet of Fort Confidence moored, including a small fishing boat - the same boat that would carry Jasper Hobson and Pauline Barney the next day. Go to the Indian camp.From here, you can see most of the lake, as well as the forested hills, winding lakeshores, jagged headlands and small bays, the breeze blowing on the water, the waves are rippling, and several ever-changing buildings are reflected on the lake. iceberg.To the south, as far as the eye can see is the real sea horizon, which is a circular line clearly delineated by the sunlit sky and the lake.

This vast space formed by the water of Big Bear Lake, the lakeshore covered with pebbles and granite stones, the hillsides covered with green grass and green carpet, the hills covered with trees, are full of vibrant flora and fauna.All kinds of wild ducks are chasing, playing and quacking on the water; there are eider ducks, whistle ducks, flower ducks, and the chattering "grandmother" duck.Hundreds of fulmars and puffins fluttered in all directions.The white-tailed sea eagle swaggered up and down the tree. It was a 2-foot-tall falcon with a light gray belly, blue claws and beak, and orange-yellow eyes.The nests of these birds are made of seaweed, built on the branches, and seem to be a large area.Sabine, a hunter, downed a pair of large white-tailed sea eagles, with wings spread about 6 feet—the best specimens of this migratory bird, a fish-eating group whose severe cold winters in the Gulf of Mexico and summers They have returned to live in the highest latitudes of North America.

But of particular interest to walkers is the catching of an otter whose fur is worth several hundred rubles! The fur of these precious amphibians was extremely rare in China in the past.However, if the price of these furs has dropped sharply in the market, they are still very popular in the Russian market.There, the sale of goods is always guaranteed and expensive.Consequently, Russian traders developed the entire frontier from New Cornui to the Arctic Ocean, and hunted sea otters incessantly, and their species decreased strangely, which is why these animals ran away when they saw them, and the hunters kept them Chased to various islands off the coast of Kamchatka and the Bering Strait.

"However," added Sergeant Feldon, after having recounted all this to his guests, "the American otter is not to be neglected, and the common otters in this part of the Great Bear Lake cost between 250 and 300 francs each." Indeed, the otters that live under the lake are of high quality.The one that the sergeant himself shot deftly killed was almost equivalent to Kamchatka.The animal was two and a half feet long from head to tail, short-legged, light brown fur darker on the back and lighter on the belly, plush and silky, long and shiny. "Well done, Sergeant!" said Lieutenant Hobson, showing Mrs Pauline Barnett the animal's fine pelt. "Indeed, Mr. Hobson," replied Sergeant Felton, "if we got an otter skin like this every day, we would have nothing to complain about! But it takes time to wait for these animals, who swim into the water as quickly as possible." The speed is astonishing! They almost only come out at night, and rarely come out of their holes during the day, and their holes are either in tree trunks or in rock crevices, which are extremely difficult to find, even for experienced hunters.” "Has the otter population decreased?" asked Mrs. Paulina Barnett. "Yes, ma'am," replied the sergeant, "the day they become extinct and the company's profits will drop dramatically. All hunters will be after these pelts, and the Americans especially compete with us deadly. During your travels, Lieutenant, didn't you meet the employees of the American company?" "None," answered Jasper Hobson. "Do they frequent such high latitudes?" "Come often, Mr. Hobson," said the sergeant. "You'd better be careful when you see these nasty fellows." "Are these officers thieves?" asked Paulina Barnett. "No, ma'am," replied the sergeant, "but these are formidable opponents, and the hunters will shoot in contention when there are few hunters. I am even sure that if the company's intentions are successful, if the You have at last erected a fort on the border of the Continent, and your example will soon be imitated by the Americans, may God thwart them!" "Oh!" replied the Lieutenant. "The land is vast, and there is room for all men under the sun. As for us, let us do it first! As long as the ground is solid under our feet, we will go forward, and God bless us!" After a three-hour walk, the tourists returned to Fort Confidance.A rich supper of fish and fresh game was waiting for them in the hall.They ate with gusto.They chatted for hours afterwards.The guests of the fort slept soundly for the night. The next day, the 30th of May, Lady Paulina Barnett and Jasper Hobson were up at five o'clock in the morning.The Lieutenant was to spend the day inspecting the Indian camps and gathering information that might be of use to him.He proposed that Thomas Blake go with him.But astronomers would rather stay on land.He wished to make some astronomical observations and to determine the exact latitude and longitude of Confidantsburg.Lady Polina Barnett and Jasper Hobson were therefore obliged to cross the lake alone, with Norman, an old sailor who had served the company for many years, in the boat. The two passengers were accompanied by Sergeant Feldon to the little port, and old Norman was waiting for them on board.It was only a fishing boat, without deck, with a keel of sixteen feet, and with high rigging.It can be easily operated by one person.The weather is fine, with a slight northeasterly wind, which is suitable for sailing.Sergeant Feldon bade his guests farewell and begged their pardon for not being able to accompany him, for he could not leave the station without the lieutenant in his presence.The cable was loosened, and the boat left the small harbor along the starboard wind, and passed quickly across the clear lake. This tour is truly a wandering, and a fascinating wandering at that.The old sailor was silent and silent in the stern with the tiller tucked under his arm.Lady Polina Barnett and Jasper Hobson sat on a bench at the side of the boat, contemplating the scene unfolding before them.The boat goes straight along the north shore of Big Bear Lake on the water about 3 miles offshore.Therefore, they clearly saw the wooded hills slowly sinking westward.Viewed from this side, the northern shore of the lake is flat and vast, with a distant horizon.This shore is in inverse proportion to the angled shore on which Fort Confidant is surrounded by green pine trees.The company flag can also be seen fluttering in the wind from the cupola.On the south and west sides, the sun slanted on the lake, giving off streaks of light; but like moving icebergs, like large pieces of silver, it blinded people's eyes.The ice cubes cast by the severe cold leave no trace.Only this floating iceberg cannot be thawed by the sun. It seems to compete with the North Pole sun. This sun draws a long daytime arc in the sky. The heat is not strong, but it is still bright. Lady Polina Barnett and Jasper Hobson talked, as usual, of what this strange nature had stirred up in them.Their brains are enriched with many memorable memories, and the boat is gently undulating and speeding on the calm lake. Indeed, the boat set sail at 6 o'clock in the morning, and by 9 o'clock it was close to the northern shore of the lake where they were supposed to go.The Indian camp was built at the northwest corner of Big Bear Lake. Before ten o'clock, Old Norman had moored the boat at the foot of a not too high cliff on the steep river bank. The Lieutenant and Pauline Barnett went ashore at once.Two or three Indians ran up to them--their chief among them, much plumed on his head, spoke to them in fairly clear English. The Indians of the Hare tribe, the Indians of the Copper tribe, the Indians of the Beaver tribe, and others all belong to the Seven-step Reed tribe, so their customs and dress are not very different.In addition, they had frequent exchanges with trading posts, and this trading activity can be said to have "Britishized" them to the extent that a barbarian can.They sent the hunted animals to the trading station, and exchanged them for the necessities of life from the trading station. For several years, they no longer produced them themselves.They are employees of the company, so to speak; they depend on it for their livelihood, and it is not surprising that they have completely lost their character.To find native races that had not come into contact with Europeans, one had to ascend to higher latitudes, down to frozen regions usually visited only by Eskimos. Like the Greenlanders, the Eskimos are true descendants of the Arctic. Lady Polina Barnett and Jasper Hobson went to the camp of the Hare Tribe Indians, half a mile from shore.There they saw about 30 aborigines, men, women, and children, who developed the lakeshore and lived by fishing and hunting.These Indians just recently returned from the northern part of the American continent. They told Jasper Hobson some information about the current situation around the 70th parallel. The information is not complete.However, the Lieutenant was satisfied to learn that for several years no European or American expedition had been seen along the coast of the Arctic Ocean, and that the waters were navigable at this time of year.As for the Bathurst point to which he intended to go, the Indians of the Hare tribe knew nothing.In addition, their leader said, the area between Big Bear Lake and Bathurst Point is difficult to navigate, with rough terrain and currently thawed rivers blocking roads.He advised the lieutenant to take the shortest route down the Copperman River to the coast.Once in the Arctic Ocean, free to walk along the coast, Jasper Hobson would then have the initiative and stay where he saw fit. Jasper Hobson thanked the Indian chief, gave him a few presents, and took his leave.He then accompanied Mrs Paulina Barnett around the camp before returning to the boat just before 3pm.

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