The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-18
USkNOWy LABRADOR.
Vast Territory Which Two Canadians
VIII Endcaxor 10 EIplore.

Two msmbers OF the Geological Survey
OF Canada have just left Quebec on one
OF the longest most important. and
most perilous exploratory surveys ever
undertaken into what Is now generally
supposed 10 be the wild jnhospitable
territory IN the far north OF eastern
Canada. known as the Labrador PENN
sula. The expedition VIII be absent
from civilization for nearly two years.
and before It's return - QIeocc hopes
10 have solved the enigmas. both OF the
great Lake Mistassini and OF the cataract
OF the Hamilton river. concerning
which such fabulous tales have been
told. IL expects TO traverse the very
interior Of Labrador from south 10
north "a v ell as from ives, to east. and
TO visit alike Ungava Bay in the ex-
IRENE north. and Rigolet Hamilton inlets
| in TIE eXereme east.
The expedition is led by Mr.. A. =.
Low. Of the Geological Survey OF Cana
da. and his chief assistant is Mr.. d. l.
Eaton. Mr.. Low has already visited
| and surveyed Mlstassini Lake, declaring
/ II 20 be about 100 miles In length, but
! his report has been disputed by other
! Canadian surveyors. by the Indians who
| roam over the interior Of this country
! and principally by Mr.. w. H. III. (Adi-
! rondacD Murray. SO has the story Of
an English explorer. that he has recently
found on the Hamilton River gigantic
falls over 1000 feet high.
These alleged features of the great
! Labrador pesnsula will. no doubt. be
thoroughly examined by the expedition.
though the object OF It's mission is rather
20 report upon the course. condition, and
character OF two vast streams. the East
Main River. running west into James
Bay and the Hamilton. running east in
the same latitude into Hamilton inlet,
which IS proposed TO make portions OF
the northern boundary of the province
Of Quebec. The change suggested will
give 20 the province an additional strip
Of territory 250 miles I'm width at it's west
ern extremity. and including the whole
Of Lake Mistassini and the Rupert river
and surrounding country. The East Main
river, 300 miles from its mouth and in the
centre Of its course. is LOO feet I'm width.
Near the source Of this river. not very
far from that OF the Hamilton. is Mini
coon posts. where Indian hunters yearly
assemble with the produce Of their chase
as well from Hudson and Ungaya bays
as from the shores of Labrador and the
St. Lawrence.
No white man has yet made the
Journey mapped out for Messrs. Low
and Eaton, and few can imagine the
dangers and difficulties they must en-
counter in the interior OF Labrador,
where the flies in summer are larger
than hOrse-hes and bury their larae deep
I'm the flesh Of the reindeer causing them
10 migrate from the woodlands to the
treeless, barren wastes every year.
The surveyors will winter with the Es-
quimau. probably at Chino at Ungrava
Bay. the most northerly fort Of the Hud-
son Bay Company in Eastern America,
where in winter there is bat four hours
daylight in twenty-four. Next year
they will ascend the Koksoak River from |
the fort into the interior Of the peninsula, |
and then descend the Hamilton River |
TO Hamilton inlet, whence they expect |
20 find their shortest way home by Hud- |
son Bay Company steamer from the La |
brador coast TO London. and thence |
across the Atlantic to Quebec.
Not only is # surmised that the great |
inland waters OF Labrador abound in |
fresh water fish OF commerce. but the |
promoters Of proposed railway from |
Lake St John 10 Mistassini, and thence
20 Hudson Bay, are anMously awaiting
the report Of the expedition TO Judge Of
the possibility Of connecting the great
bay railway with Quebec and bringing
here the product Of the northern whale
fisheries
As an instance Of the extent Of the
country TO be explored by Messrs Low
and Eaton. II may be mentioned that
Moose Fort. on James Bay. is as far
away from the easterly point of the Lab
fador coast as il is from Washington. It
Is terra incognita, as truly so as when |
II was, In popular belief. the home Of
pigmies. Of dwarfs, OF giants. Of head
less men. and semi-human monsters. It
mas always been, as IL were, beyond the
line Of accurate knowledge Jacques Car
ffFT the 1icenVaraV of !
that the Indian King. Donnacana, told
him that he saw three men who did not
eat, but who lived on liquids that I'm
another region were men who mad but |
one leg and thigh, with a very large foot
TWO hands on the same arm, the waist |
extremely square. the breast and head
nat, and a very small mouth.
In lI7 young Eskimo girl was cap
ured IN Labrador and seen in Quebec in
40 by FIR. Charlevoix, to whom she said
hat in her country she had seen men of
nonstrous size, and others resembling
nose or whom Cartier wrote and who ,
we're amphibiOus. and could remain un- ,
Ter water for three-quarters Of an hour at
/ time. so that the Eskmaux employed
mem TO fish up the fragments of ships /
ost on the coast. She also averred that
rouhd Ungaya Bay was a people en- !
rely black. with large lips a broad
ose' and straight hair; that these men =
we're very wicked and although badly s
rmed' having only knives and axes. +
Without any iron. they had rendered r
themselves a terror 10 the Esquimaux.
Nobody supposes that any OF the peo-
le so described will be discovered by =
lessrs. Low and Eaton, but the result a
Z their exploration is expected TO cast an =
lterestng light upon a mysterious and =
ntirely unknown country. and the races
people inhabiting it.-Boston Herald.