Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-08-29
Socol Gloffcrs.
From rrof. Ives Exploring Party.

Mr.. Rupert Ii. Baxter Of Bowdoiu Col.
lege who. accom panied Prof. Lees scien-
tidc exploration party to labrador, writes
an interesting letter dated "0a Lake Mel
vile, Labrador, August 3d." which we trans
fer to our columns from the Portland Ad-
veriiser, knowing it will be read with plea
sure by all:
Strange to say at Rigolette we learned
thst two men, one from Pbilsdelpbis the
other from Washington, were on their way
to explore the Grand river, they hsytn.
arrived by steamer only three hours before
US. II was i'm possible to see either OF III m
owing to the fact thst both gentlemen we're
away from the post in search Of guidss,
and consequently we were obliged to lesv.
Ri9oiette without seeing our rival party.
at was decided to continue our cruise In
the Decser to the mouth Of the Grsud riv
err 10 order to save lime for Gu. expIors,i ID
marty. Accordingly we took on board an
Esquimaux guide and started on our voJ
age to the head Ct Melville lake, only one
hundred and twenty-five miles distant from
Rigolette.
"Taki"g advantage Of the tide we sailed
rapidly through the "Nsrrows' arriving Fl
Esq lim.ux island at about noon. ContiD-
uiI on cur course We sailed into Melville
lake. This BODY of water is abou, 100
miles long by 20 vide. Towards the south
loom up the volcanic peaks of the Meale !
mountains viii e on the northern shore
abrupt cliff, rise TO tn, height Of five and
SIX hundred feet above the waters edge.
THE evening on Melville lake WAS delight
ful, the air being warm and the moon lsrse
and brilliant. Never have seen the North
ern Light" orel brilliant than they were
du-i & h night ard we watched them for
h)u-r, as re lay on the deck, comfortably
~rspped in blankets.
"At about noon on Sunday we reached the
head Of Goose bay, Is miles north of the
mouth of the Grand river, where we babe
good bye to our ex )lorstion party.
"Reue strong and determined men ate mpt
the disc,very Of perhaps the graudest fsl $
in the ord, The following are the name.
of the men comp sing this pr.y Carey 's6,
Cole 80, Smith 20, Young '22.
"rhe staur oh ard trim little R1shton boats
are we'll equipped with sails, oars, paddle
etc having in either end copper air tank
to prevent sinking The party are provided
with supplies for six weeks nip, although
We are to be ii Rsgole;.e by the ffst Of
September to await their arrival, thinking
the whole time taken for this trip viii not
be more than four weeks At greatest.
The dangers which these men may en-
couoter are BY no means slight, md the
par,iog with our friends was exceedingly
solemn. We watched the parry till their
boats bad disappeared from our view. when
the Decker put about and sailed for North
west, Lake Melville, where we arrived
at about supper time, Norwsst 10 simply =
small trading post of the Hudson Bay Com.
psDy. Mr. McLsren being mansger. We
found him very pleasant, and he gave Us
some valuable Information RESTING to the
Indians who are enosmped about here, also
Of the feb and birds phich are quite abIud
ant in the ponds and surrounding forests
There lie one Thru which we mics here,
namely, motquitos. Strange to say they
left before W. arrived and ss we're exesed-
ugly glad to fed that they hsd not waited
for MS Ga Mon lay We siarted 70, the
Indisn encsnpmsnt situated on the shores
of lake about five II les distant and here
measurements and photographs were taken
Of the natives In exch&rge for tobacco
red hsodkero h'ef. and beads re secured 3
set Of the instrument. used Ia preparing
deer skins and in the building OF can pes
Tnese Indians are brrnoh Of the Crest
Cree trib'' and are quit, numerous ia the
interior Vt Labrador. Nssriy ali Of them
are Catholic converts aDd each winter thi.
branch Of the tribs assemble at Nofvss r
religious instrsctioo. The prie ST generally
remains with the Irdians for q week ar
more. during which time he hal1s confess
sionsl.. performs n,s-risges snd holds ser
vices ever their dead.
''Esi h Iat.ve has suspended arousd his
neck bright nickls cross and in ADDITION q
tablet on which are written in the Cree
iapguag. Q few Catholic phrases. As
regards the dress ard personal appearance
OF these Mounts 1eers' they sre far more
cleaniy than the Sismacs whom We saw 81
Port Hswk.s5erry.
"Rsfufping from the fndisu village We
found thas during our absence the Phiia-
delphis party bad arrived 81 the post and
were ALREADY preparing their canoes and
supplying them Nth provisions.
We are exceedingly sorry that there should
be any ri=aIfy between our party and any
o her, but 81 there IL of cour.e re feel thst
ours will prove victorious. We fund Mr..
Bryt Mt sod Prof. K-rssgon very cordial sad
were much p'essed With both gentle
m a. TIE s+ie II leave the poet on Sat-
u h-y = L ues 1-1S. his Ie-stn Of 'i-rf
cur p'ify 81 hvsss7sr % si1 d .ys a. al
hi tier. On .art fiiJ-iG msr. ia -
wee 4is,a-J iato par ie, for making ell c.