The Portland daily press., 1897-11-05
OTTAWA Correspondence Boston Tran
script.)

OTTAWA Correspondence Boston Tran
script.)
That Baffinhnd is the third largest is
land in the world; that it contains vast
herds of reindeer; that it is a land of
great lakes and also Of great rivers, are
some of the discoveries made by DIR. Bell
of the Geological Survey during the past
summer. The doctor was a member of
the Diana expedition, sent to explore the
navigability of Hudson's Strait, and
having performed his part of the work in
the strait aud Baffinland he returned to
this city from ST. Johns, Newfoundland,
whittier the Diana carried him on her last
call there for coal.
DR.. Bell says the northern shore Of
southern coast of Baffinland What is
now found to be one great island, to
which this name has been given, we
formerly thought to be divided by chan
nels or sounds into several islands. 1t
is by far the largest island in the Domin-
ion, and is only inferior in extent to
Australia and Greenland, so that it ranks
as the third largest island in the world
1t lies northwest and southeast, and is
l,100 miles in length. Its breadth varies
from 200 to 500 miles, the average being
300. Its southern and eastern sides are
high and bold, but there is an extensive
plain with level and rocky surface in
the western part of the island, which
affords pasturage to vast herds of rein
deer, or barren ground caribou.
Although Greenland is covered by q
gigantic ice-cap, it is generally supposed
that no glaciers exist on the opposite or
coast side of Baffin's Bay, but DR.. Bell
says there are numerous glaciers in the
northern part of Battinland and that there
is also An extensive one in the southern
part. the, high peninsula, called Terra
Neuve, between Frobisher Bay and Hud-
son Strait. In the interior of the south
ern part of the island west of Frobisher
Bay, small glaciers were seen, and the
steep northNard slopes of some of the
mountains show many large white spots
the icy remains of great snowdrifts
which probably never entirely melted
away.
Several very big lakes exist in the CEN
trail part of this great island. The largest
of these, which is perhaps $50 miles long
and almost as wide, is called Nettilling
Its northeastern bay is not far inland
from the head of Cumberland Sound.
To the south of this and discharging into
it by fine, clear water river is the lake
Dr. Bell visited from the southwark
called Amadjuak, which may be half as
large as the other. AT the opposite end
from that visited the Eskimos say q
glacier discharges small icebergs into the
lake, where they float along like those in
the sea. aSttf
In the same region is third sheet of
water, of considerable extent, called Lake
Mingo. The wuter of all the lakes in this
treeless region is absolutely transparent
and eolorless. Ranges of mountains from
1000 to 1000 feet high and fifty miles in
breadth lie between these lakes and Hud-
son Strait. Another large lake is report
ed to exist to the northwest of the head
of Frobisher Bay.
DIR. Bell did not see foot of what
could be called good soil in any part of
the great island. The whole of Baffin-
land has bleak aspect being rocky and
entirely destitute of timber. The northern
border Of the forests keeps to the south OF
Hudson Strait. Still the stunted Arctic
vegetation gives the valleys and the slopes
of the hills in sheltered places a green APP
pearance during the short summer.
Grasses and sedges are the tallest plants.
Several species OF stunted creeping will
lows grow there, but they cling closely to
the earth, scarcely rising an inch above
l6szsurface. In the latter part of July the
ground in many places is green with a
protuslon OF Arctic flowers of many hues-
Salmon abound in ssthe rivers of the
eastern coast, and sea fishes are also
found around the island. Seals of halt
dozen species, walruses, narwhals, polar
bears and the smaller whales are abun-
dant in the waters.
Cumberland Sound, where the dundee
whaling. stations are situated, is large
bay on the east coast. The principal
Eskimo settlements are in this part of the
island. 1t was here that the officers of
tho Diana raised the flag" and pro-
claimed British sovereignty over the is
land. Baffinland may in the future be-
come valuable for fisheries or mines, or
from some unforeseen circumstance, and
considering it's vast size 1T may some day
prove of importance to the British en-
pire, according to DIR. Bell.
During the time that Dr. Bell was
away from the Diana he made q track
survey, checked By numerous observa-
ton for latitude and longitude, of the
whole coast, and its numerous large is
lands all the way from near Kings Cape
to Icy Cove, distance of nearly three
hundred miles. In order to meet the
ship again at the place at which he left
her, it was necessary 70 go twice over the
same ground, but by steady work, taking
advantage of the long daylight in the
earlier part of tho season, he was able
to do this, and was IN hand on the day
appointed. The Dit ma was also on time,
and both he and his crew were glad to
get safely away after having finished
their dangerous t',sk.
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People can't be good natured, can't be
nleasant if thew have Itching Piles