The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1860-08-15


observer, deeply impressive. The gradual
fading away Of the light of day-slow as it
seemed at first, but toward the close going
on moro and more rapidly--the lurid glare
of the last lingering ray of the unextinguish-
ed sun--and then the instantaneous gloom
which followed the final extinction, and, by
IFS suddenness, startled even those who were
watching for and moniehtly expecting ";
then the wild, unearthly aspect OF the scene
which cnsucd while the shadow still rested
ON that little knot OF observers, alone amid
one of the bleakest and most desolate spots
the world has to exhibit: the heavy clouds.
fringed nevertheless in the horizon with pale
light passing into twilight flush, but unnatur-
al sombre and lnehacing; the breathless silence
of the awed and interested spectators, which
made even the beating of the chron9mcter
audible, and permitted the murmur of the
distant surf to fall distinctly on the car
these things and others similar, whether re-
alities or creations of the Imagination, made
the brief moments of that strange obscurity
seem like moments passed in spirit land,
and stamped them on the memory with
power which no time can oblitcratc.
Somuch, at present, for the eclipse, There
are many other things in regard to which,
if space allowed, might perhaps, interest
YOU more. These may form themes for more
deliberately prepared communications here
after At present will add but a word in
regard to the strange, wild, dcsolate and for
bidding land which, for the past month, has
been all that We have seen of terra yfrD'o.-
The coast of Labrador, even as low as the lat
itule in which We are now (52 degrees, NJ
is scarcely tenantable by civilized man. II
the climate itself did not forbid any attempt
to draw from ihe earth the means of sustain
ing human life, agriculture would still be I'M
possible for want of a soil. Wherever We
have touched land, we have found the whole
country one vast chaos of broken rock, over
living rock still unbrokcn, which forms the
framework and foundation of this entire and
vast region of gloom aud silence and FROST
1t is even difficult to find spots in the most ia
vorcd valleys, where the soil accumulated from
the wash Of the hills, and the growth and de-
cay of MOSES, for many centuries, has depth
sufficient to enable the poor fishermen, who
waste their lives in battling here with nature,
to bury their dead out Of sight. When such
spot is found it Is resorled to for this pous
aud melancholy purpose from great distan-
ccs. The settlers from Temple Bay tell me
that the dead are carried, from some Of the
villages. more than twenty niles in boats in
order to find place where burial is possible.
1t illustrates also this character of the coun-
try, that the mcteorologists of our party,
whose instructions required them TO bury
bottles of water ut considerable depth, in
order to obtain the temperature of the earth,
at Il point below the fluctuations occasioncd
by the seasons, though they spent much time
and labor in the ondeayor to accomplish this
purpose, were completely balicd. The great
est depth to which they were able to pcnc-
tratc, or which could have been penetrated
I, without powerful mechanical contrivanccs, or
eunpowder, to assist, WAS only about three
feet; and this after many trials and long and
wcarisome toll.
The broken rock which specifically COW
: crs nearly every part of Labrador which We
have seen, is made up Of masses Of all sizes,
! from few feet in diameter TO many feet
The prevalent dimensions Of the fragments
are from one to two feet on a side. Large
. portions Of the surface thus covered arc with
out any vegetable relief whatever; other por-
tions are nearly oycrgrown with moses, in
> tcrspersed with a few grasses and plants Of
higher grade, all of which have been in flower
i. during our visit, and have served to give
trace Of chcerfulness to a scene in every 9th
cr respect chilling and rcpellant. More gen
orally the vegetation, such as il is, only en-
tends along in seams, in the crevices between
the rocks.
o The MOSES, wherever they gain foot hold,
r create, in progress Of time, deep spongy
/ cushions between the stones; and as these
: have great power of absorption, aud as the
c SHOWS, which are probably never wholly all
/ sent from the hill-tops and mountain ravincs,
!. and which arc even renewed by additions
# from the skies during the summer, are al
t. ways melting and furnishing new supplies
| of water from above, it follows that the spots
# which seem most cheerful to the eve, are
those which it is most disagreeable to tread
upon; and many of them arc little better
e than absolute marshes.
., | am speaking now Of what appears upon
IS the coast. Into the interior We did not pen
+, citrate neither time nor the necessary means
of transportation allowing. II the heart If
the country possesses a character less desc
&C late or broken or unpleasing, may have done
Al an injustice to Labrador which, on better in
It formation, should be very happy to repair
e In what have thus far said, | have confined
myself to the aspect of the country as de-
y pendent on its mere superfcies. have said
Is nothing of it considered from picturesque
d point Of view. In this respect It presents
N the most extraordinary features have ever