TRACING ROSS ACROSS BOOTHIA1

• Published in: Canadian Geographies / Géographies canadiennes
• Main Author: Fraser, J. Keith
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1957
• Subjects: Arctic; eskimo*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0064.1957.tb01787.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1541-0064.1957.tb01787.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1541-0064.1957.tb01787.x

Summary This was one of the few expeditions of this period which made careful note of the Eskimo names in the area which they explored. No further explorations were made in southern Boothia until recently. By correlating the descriptions and Eskimo names with those obtained in 1953, it was possible to trace Ross' journeys quite accurately in most cases, and credit must be given to the officers of this expedition for their mapping of inland features as well as the coasts. Most of the other expeditions of the past century either mapped coastal configuration only, applying British names liberally without regard to local native nomenclature, or followed the larger rivers leading to the Arctic seas. It must be remembered that the Ross expedition spent three winters in southern Boothia and thereby gained an intimate knowledge of the country. By associating with the local inhabitants, they learned much more about the local geography and the native culture than parties which did not utilize local guides.