henday volunteered to undertake an expedition into this territory. he came from the isle of wight, and was a convicted smuggler and joined the hbc in 1750 as a net-maker and labourer. henday had gained some experience in inland travel after arriving at york factory. on june 26, 1754, he set out with a group of plains indians. they passed the french fort paskoya where he may have met la corne, the western commander at that time.