Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-17

1t seemed no human power could save the
Sophie. 1t was all Of short duration; aud
but one little hint to man of the inconceiv-
ably awful power within the mighty ele-
mental forces. My timber-hunter friends
speculations were upon different lines, how
ever. Changing his cud, he measuredly
and pathetically remarked:
If could jess tow what ice wuz wasted
IN that cussed blow-up into Bosting harbor,
Id buy the CAPITOL for residence an git
the old Common fur front yard"
THE ISLAND METROPOLIS.
Here at Indian Harbor of Indian Island,
the latter one of the three-score or more
Esquimaux islands at the mouth of Hamil-
ton Inlet. we found resident population of
possibly 800, and temporary population on
vessels of fully 1000 souls. The former
chiefly comprised the Esquimaux Indians,
VINO, from appearance, are FULLY as lazy and
sodden as the Montagnais and Nasquapees
The missionaries all give an excellent ac-
count of their docility, good humor and
general admirable qualities. But fishermen
and others who have no interest in impress
ing strangers with their Importance, fatty
say that they are the most miserable wretches
who live, and that the missionaries would
not be here with them but for the large sums
made out OF them in the annual chickering's
for furs and fish, and in providing them with
supplies; for the missionaries are not only
leaders and teachers, but they virtually con-
troll them as SO many slaves, paying them
what they like for their furs, and conduct
Ing every transaction of purchase and sale
at outrageously low and high valuations.
This may be Christianity to the heather,
but 1t seems much like heathenish business
with pretentious Christianity. During July,
August and September. there are always
busy scenes here; but they are all connected
with preparing and dispatching fish, chiefly
the cod. This is wholly secured by "shore''
fishing, there being no fishing whatever on
banks" along the Labrador coast. Her
ring is principally used for bait; though the
launce, and to a much greater degree than
the launce, the capelin, in the absence of
herring are also used.
The shore of Indian Harbor consists of an
irregular series of broadly arched shelving
rocks. There is nothing in sight but har-
Dor, huts, sea, rocks, vessels, their crews.
Esouimaux and fish. More vessels are
moored to huge staples embedded in these
rocks than by anchor. ALI vessel requires
for wharfage is hawsers and staples They
are run alongside these natural piers,
moored, and the work of wheeling the fish
in creaking barrows to the "was6houses''
begins. From these they 20 upon the rocks
for drying and curing. Piles like small hay
stacks are often seen, and for more than two
miles OF shore the entire harbor takes on q
pale yellowish tint Of curing fish, as a
strange temporary fringe to the purple dark
ness Of the black and barren stone behind.
THEIR HARVEST.
Boats are constantly arriving with their
loads Of fresh fish; frequently hundreds will
come rushing in pellmell together, to escape
sudden squalls outside; and briggs brigan-
tines and schooners are daily setting sail for
the south, slowed to the gunwales with the
ripened harvest of these shores.
Hamilton Inlet has other features Of in
terest besides its greasy Esquimaux and its
fish. Behind the numberiess picturesque
islands at its mouth, it stretches back for
fully 100 miles, the expanses of Lake Mel
vile and Goose Bay included, vast land
locked inland sea; and from thence its
windings are followed for hundreds of miles
to its river source, but o short distance from
Seven Islands Bay at the mouth of the St.
Lawrence; forming, with few portages, un-
doubtedly the longest canoe route in the
world. Midway between its source and the
Atlantic, are falls variously stated to be
from 400 to 1000 feet in height, at the feet
OF which the great river is Impressed into
. narrow gorge 300 feet deep through which
it leaps In mighty cataracts for distance of
81 miles. At Rigoulette, some 75 miles
above Indian Harbor, where the inlet is
narrowed between tremendous cliffs at
point called the Na-rows. is trifling Es-
quimaux settlement, and one of the ancient
Hudson Bay CompaDy's trading posts. All
the way from Rigoulette to the sea gigantic |
masses of stone frown above the bay. Be-
hind these to the south an little pockets of |
valleys there are, all told. perhaps 20 acres
Of ground under sickly cultivation; and this