The Redwood gazette., 1902-11-26
FALL IN LABRADOR.
Some Features of Modern Life in That
Northern Country.

The mantel Of winter has already
begun to shroud the whole length
OF Labrador. The first snow of the
north fell on the 3lst of August.
The thermometer fell to the lowest
this summer, viz. 2S.S inches
There has hardly been any frost at
night yet. in fact, we have enjoyed
a phenomeaally fine fall. The mos
quitOes have just left US and still
| belated tourists come down in the
mail. To my nina October is the
month to take a round trip on the
mail steamer. You can then get
some idea OF what a green sea
means. And | know that half an
hour on head land to-day watch
ing the seas would do a tired city
refugee more good than week of
the fiat calm and flies of August.
Everywhere now the berries are
ripe The bakeapple or cloudberrv
| is especially plentiful this year.
The various varieties OF blueberries
are in countless thousands, the
ground in places being so thickly
covered with the luscious dwarf
variety as to make one think of a
Turkey carpet, especially where the
intervals are hidden by the still
more brilliant Gran berries. Many
barrels OF these are being exported,
so | hear, annually for making dyes.
There would seem enough Of these
berries in Labrador to paint the
map red. The partridges, or more
accurately, the willow grouse, are
now seeking the high barrens: so
that we can get at them, and the
young are sizeable for the pot. Nine
fell to my gun in two hours from
the anchorage (and back to ship)
yesterday On windy days these
make very excellent shot and a
veritable boon as change from a
| fish diet.
Geese and black duck are now
coming out from their inaccessible
faStncSS in the interior to feed on
marshes and in the shallow inletS
while those ducks that breed be-
yOnd our reach in the north are now
commencing the southern migra-
ton, and so when a strong head
wind throws their line of flight near
the shore, they too come in reach Of
the gunners and are kindly well
coined to our festal boards. Coming
into Bateau last week from the
north we anchored at D. N. and
we rowed off for an attempt to get a
Sunday dinner | was fortunate
enough to get a good shot at some
geese, killing four with the first
barrel and knocking down two
moro with the second AS. how
ever. the birds fell into q large lake,
as it was getting dark and | had to
swim for all the birds. I was IN
lucky enough to lose two of them
These birds are now so heavy
that before had reached the boat
again | was rejoicing. however. that
there were only four to drag
While speaking of birds, | was
struck with the fact that Snow
Bunting eggs are so common in the
neighborhood Of Cape Chidley.
While one is sorry to see the men
seeking work on the land. as these
fisheries are a nuserv for good sail
Ors. and the sea sour British birth
right (what work ashore can ap-
proach a life on the sea- one is glad
to see some OF the EsquimauN who
have been exploited and expatriated
tor SHOW purposes coming back.
though, as usual, the Newfoundland
government has to pay the bill for
their passage. In the interest OF
all parties and for humanitv's S sake
we are hoping that someone get a
new law prohibiting this. framed
and passed as soon as possible. If
one wants to see an Esquimaux at
his best he should visit a Moravian
station for civilized specimen and
| presume the Arctic highlands for
the real raw material. The musical
capabilities of the Esquimaux have
often been commented upon but the
length OF the words are sore him
drauce to the man that has to write