St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-22
md in winter haul sledges hundreds of

and in winter haul sledges hundreds Of
miles.
The population consists OF fishermen,
principally Sewfoundlanders, French Cana
dians, Moravian Missionaries and Indians.
Mr.. Tuttie, in giving an account
OF bis explorations in that region,
says that the number Of inhabitants
varies with the season. During the fishing
season there are generally scattered along
the coast some twenty thousand people. hut
In winter the population dwindles to one
fourth of that number All these people
yield willing obedience to the laws Of New
foundIand
After the close Of the fishing season,
among those who remain during the
winter there is much suffering and want,
and the people nearly starve, especially
when fishing has proved failure The
climate is severe but healthy, and there is
little sickness among the people, but such
as is produced by exposure, lack Of proper
food and violation OF the simplest sanitary
rules.
The fishing stations are very numerous,
and are scattered along great stretch Of
coast. The natives seem 10 lead a happy
life and in many respects are better OF .han
the white people. They are experts in hunt
ing and trapping. They bring the results Of
their hunting and trapping to the coast ard
at the stations exchange their furs, skins,
and SO on, for pork, -four, tea, molasses,
powder, shot, etc. They are plentifully sup
piled with food from the flesh Of the deer,
nd uaIf a.
coast and in the Interior.
Mr.. Tuttle says there is nothing in the
natural appearance OF the country and the
people to impress one favorably. The few
houses scattered here aud there, occupied BIZ
the whites, are usually neat and clean, but
wear the appearance Of extr enc isolation.
The fishing season is one of great hard
ship and there is much exposure 10 cold and
considerable danger.
In July last the steamer Neptune sailed
from Halifax, aud on the 26th was at Blanc
sab!on, which marks the boundary line be-
tween the Dominion aud Labrador. After
wards there was long aud stormy voyage
skirting the coast of this wild country
Rather graphically Mr.. Tottle describes the
uncomfortable II not hazardous voyage on
a turbulent sea, from which an extract must
suffice.
lcebergs may be met on the Labrador coast
1 N great numbers, almost any day, except in the
| winter season. AZ times we counted as many az
| twenty or thirty from the Neptunes quarter
/ deck They were Of various sizes, and OF many
| shapes, and, rejecting the strong light OF the
sun, presented a most picturesque scene.
| An iceberg looks ike small mounisin OF gyp-
sum, or II you please. q well-founed elevation OF
white marble; or better still, IL looks ike Just
what It is, huge pile OF solid ice.
But one steaming along the Labrador will Lot
only be entertained by icebergs, and the strange,
wild character OF the bold, rocky coast bat By
the wind-storm we'll. II yon have never been
in Labrador wnd-storm, then YOU have never
/ been there az all. II Is always blowing furiousy.
| Clearing Belle Isle. we steamed out into the
| North Atlantic. The wind-we knew IL would
| freshencd into strong gale, and the western
| sky became picture OF wldness. Clouds were
being driven rapidly with the upper currents,
and. as hey parted or passed over the face OF the
setting sun, aud mlngled their dark shadows
with It's dazzling rays, the deep shades Snd
| bright colors with which the horizon was painted
rendered the scene intensely thrilling.