Chapter I: Front Matter

THE FUR COUNTRY by Jules Verne [Redactor’s Note: The Fur Country(Number V010 in the T&M numerical listing of Verne’s works) is a translation of Le Pays de fourrures (1873) first published in England by Sampson and Low and in the United States by James Osgood (1874). The translation is by N. d’Anvers, a pseudonym for Mrs. Arthur Bell (d. 1933) who also translated other works of Jules Verne. Other translations of this work are by Henry Frith (George Routledge, 1879) and Edward Baxter (New Canada Press, 1987).

A listing of the illustrations in the original editions is provided as well as a table of contents for each part. The illustrations are assigned numbers which refer to the part of the book, chapter, and order (a,b,c etc.) for use when an illustrated version is created.

This redaction is by N. Wolcott ([email protected]) who assumes all responsibility for errors of omission or commission. ]

THE FUR COUNTRY or Seventy Degrees North Latitude Translated from the French of Jules Verne

BY N. D’ANVERS

With One Hundred Illustrations

1874

TO MY NEPHEWS HERBERT, EDGAR, AND ROBERT

This Translation

is

AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED,

N. D’ANVERS

Clapham, 1873

THE FUR COUNTRY. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. I-01-a

“Mrs Joliffe served out slice after slice”

I-01-b

Lieutenant Hobson and Sergeant Long

I-01-c

“The Corporal, match in hand, awaited the order of his Captain”

I-02-a

The arrival of Thomas Black

I-02-b

A savant thawed

I-03-a

Thomas Black introduces himself

I-04-a

The start from Fort Reliancce

I-04-b

“Lieutenant Hobson and the Sergeant led the way,”

I-05-a

Corporal Joliffe proves his skill in driving,

I-05-b

The beginning of the thaw

I-05-c

The effects of the thaw

I-06-a

A wapiti duel

I-06-b

“To the icebergs! to the icebergs!”

I-06-c

“There were bears prowling in the pass”

I-07-a

The Hare Indians

I-08-a

A storm on the lake

I-08-b

“Hobson uttered a last despairing cry!”

I-08-c

Saved!

I-09-a

The mouth of the Coppermine River

I-09-b

“Thousands of birds were shot”

I-10-a

Traces of an encampment

I-11-a

The footprints of a dancer

I-11-b

A temporary encampment

I-12-a

“I promise you double pay”

I-12-b

The site of the fort

I-12-c

Collecting materials for the new factory

I-13-a

A hunting party

I-14-a

Sergeant Long and Madge fishing

I-14-a

“From this position they were able,” &c.

I-15-a

A Morse Hunt

I-16-a

Walrus Bay

I-16-b

Two shots

I-16-c

Rival claimants

I-17-a

“A new country was springing into being”

I-17-b

“A kind of fete was held”

I-18-a

“Mrs Barnett read aloud”

I-18-b

“The dogs rushed out” &c.

I-19-a

“The body was hauled up” &c.

I-19-b

Some living creatures came out of the hut

I-19-c

“She ran up to it” &c.

I-20-a

“It is more beautiful than an Aurora Borealis!”

I-21-a

“The bears were walking about on the roof”

I-21-b

“Mrs Barnett pressed the brave man’s hand”

I-21-b

“Mrs Barnett discharged the contents” &c.

I-21-d

“Mingled howls and screams were heard”

I-22-a

“Just look at our house now!”

I-22-b

“The ice burst” &c.

I-22-c

“Its waters were still sweet” &c.

I-23-a

“He might be seen standing motionless and silent”

I-23-b

“All might watch the progress of the phenomenon”

I-23-c

“Please, sir, it’s because of the pay”

I-23-d

“He shook his fist at the sun”

II-02-a

“I think not”

II-02-b

“The carpenter fixed upon the beach” &c.

II-02-c

“Thomas Black would not even join the exploring party”

II-03-a

“They breakfasted” &c.

II-03-b

“Numerous furred animals” &c.

II-04-a

“He was able to look closely at the steep wall” &c.

II-04-b

“Keep hold!”

II-04-c

“Corporal Joliffe was extremely fond of him”

II-05-a

“Thanks to the Corporal’s unwearying exertions”

II-05-b

“We are sinking gradually”

II-06-a

“Hobson remained crouching” &c.

II-060b

“The Lieutenant promised” &c.

II-07-a

“Not that way”

II-07-b

“Sergeant! Where are you?”

II-07-c

“We saw their fire; they will see ours!”

II-08-a

“Look, Madge, look!”

II-08-b

“The bear seized Kalumah by the clothes”

II-08-c

“It was the young Esquimaux girl Kalumah”

II-09-a

She murmured, ‘Mrs Barnett’

II-09-b

“The waves dashed over her kayak”

II-09-c

“She covered him with kisses”

II-10-a

“The Lieutenant tied round their necks”

II-10-b

“Hobson was in dismay”

II-11-a

“The wolves came within musket range”

II-11-b

“We knew it, sir!”

II-12-a

“It was a Polar bear”

II-12-b

“Two large waggon sledges were built”

II-13-a

“Some of the icebergs assumed extraordinary forms”

II-13-b

“We must pass somehow”

II-14-a

“Marbre flung his running noose skilfully,”

II-14-b

“Everybody started back”

II-15-a

“It was dashed upon the ice-field with a fearful crash”

II-15-b

“I think it is time to retrace our steps”

II-16-a

“It is a frost-rime”

II-16-b

“He took the altitude”

II-17-a

“When an unexpected noise”

II-17-b

“It was like an army of icebergs” &c.

II-18-a

“Poor things! poor things!”

II-18-b

“And a figure appeared” &c.

II-19-a

“Examining the state of the sea” &c.

II-19-b

“Mrs Barnett sobbed aloud”

II-20-a

“The lower framework was already floating”

II-20-b

“He escaped with a ducking”

II-21-a

“The embarkation of provisions, &c., had to be put off”

II-22-a

“He tightened them,” &c.

II-22-b

“Mrs Barnett turned and looked Madge full in the face”

II-23-a

“A beam . . . sunk deep into the earth” &c.

II-23-b

“The colonists, falling on their knees, returned thanks to God”

II-24-a

Kalumah and the bear

CONTENTS Part I I

A Soirée at Fort Reliance

II

The Hudson’s Bay Fur Company

III

A Savant Thawed

IV

A Factory

V

From Fort Reliance to Fort enterprise

VI

A Wapiti Duel

VII

The Arctic Circle

VIII

The Great Bear Lake

IX

A Storm on the Lake

X

A Retrospect

XI

Along the Coast

XII

The Midnight Sun

XIII

Fort Hope

XIV

Some Excursions

XV

Fifteen Miles from Cape Bathurst

XVI

Two Shots

XVII

The Approach of Winter

XVIII

The Polar Night

XIX

A Neighbourly Visit

XX

Mercury Freezes

XXI

The Large Polar Bears

XXII

Five Months More

XXIII

The Eclipse of the 18th June 1860