The Howgate Preliminary Arctic Expedition Part 1″

Taissumani: 2007-10-05

By Kenn Harper

On Aug. 13, 1877 an unusual expedition left New London, Connecticut, bound for Cumberland Sound on the south-eastern coast of Baffin Island. Known officially as the Howgate Preliminary Arctic Expedition, it was to be the first stage of a much grander enterprise planned by Captain Henry W. Howgate of the United States Army. 



Howgate had been inspired by the recent British expedition to the High Arctic led by George Nares. With two ships, Nares had tried to reach the North Pole by way of Smith Sound, the narrow channel separating Ellesmere Island from Greenland. His ship, the Alert, had reached Floeberg Beach on Ellesmere Island, a point farther north than any other vessel had ever gone, and wintered there. His companion ship, the Discovery, had wintered at the appropriately-named Discovery Harbour on the north side of Lady Franklin Bay.



Howgate thought that Americans should do one better than the British. He wanted to establish a permanent scientific colony at Lady Franklin Bay in 1878. For that, he would need Inuit – for he knew that none lived that far north – and dogs and skin clothing. 



And so a plan was hatched that a preliminary expedition would travel to Cumberland Sound the year before and winter there. It would be under the command of Captain George Tyson, a whaler well-known to the Inuit of the sound. During the winter, Tyson would hire Inuit who were willing to relocate to Ellesmere Island, and collect supplies. The following summer, Tyson and his party would rendezvous with a larger American vessel at Godhavn in Greenland, and continue on to Ellesmere Island.

Two scientists would accompany the preliminary expedition. Because the entire scheme was underfunded, it was planned that Tyson would also hunt whales to support the venture financially.

The expedition, aboard the tiny vessel, Florence, reached Cumberland Sound in September. She headed first to Niantilic, a popular destination for whalers on the southern coast of the sound.

But Tyson learned that four whaling ships were planning to winter there, and two others at Kekerten on the north side of the sound. He knew that both were popular wintering places because early ice breakup would allow spring whaling. But the competition for trade would not augur well for the success of his efforts to acquire skin clothing and encourage Inuit to join his expedition.

So he decided that, if he wanted to trade with the Inuit, he would have to be farther up the sound. He put into winter quarters on Oct. 7 at the head of the sound at a place the whalers knew as Ananito Harbour, or Annanatook Harbour, the place later spelled by Franz Boas as Anarnitung.

The two scientists immediately set to work. Tyson busied himself collecting skin clothing for the Ellesmere Land expedition, purchasing dogs, and convincing Inuit to relocate. Only three Inuit families had been living at Anarnitung when the Florence made anchor there.

But over the winter, it became a popular destination for Inuit coming to trade with Tyson.

Tyson has left a short description of his efforts to get Inuit to accompany him. (I use Tyson's unusual spelling of Inuit names throughout.)


"I have had several conversations with the Esquimaux in regard to their going with us to… the coast of Greenland. Some say they will go; others fear to go. The latter are afraid of the "mulling" (sea) in such a little vessel as the Florence. Others, again, have mothers who do not want them to go; then, again, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts and cousins, and I do not know what else. 


"Nepeken has promised to go; also Obetun, Thunupingnar, Inuemarket, and Alokee, making five in all. I have also the promise of several at Niantilic; but heaven only knows what the spring will bring forth. If so many vessels were not there, I could handle the natives better. Now I pretend indifference whether they go or not."

To be continued next week.

Taissumani recounts a specific event of historic interest. Kenn Harper is a historian, writer and linguist who lives in Iqaluit. Feedback? Send your comments and questions to kennharper@hotmail.com.

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